Dorking celebrates centenary
Dorking RFC, founded in 1921, is celebrating the club’s centenary year in style.
They plan to keep the celebrations going all season long, from the first home game of the season on 4th September, through an anniversary match on 13th November, to the Dorking RFC Centenary Ball on 11th December and finishing with the inaugural Dorking RFC 7s tournament and family day on 17th April 2021.
A recently opened medical and sports facility highlights how far the club has come since starting with one men’s team playing on Dorking’s Meadowbank. Apart from when the men’s team enlisted in World War II, the club has seen regular rugby and gone from strength to strength.
Now with more than 700 active players across 19 teams of men, women, girls and boys, play has taken place since 1972 at the Pavilion in Brockham. In 1980 the Dorking Minis began offering fun and training for younger players, which today is an inclusive mixed range of age groups from U7 – U18 for boys and girls. It was in 1988 that the first women’s team arrived, and currently there’s a regular women’s team as well as four girls’ teams ranging from U11 to U18.
In recent years the club has won the Powergen Vase at Twickenham in 2006, followed by a promotion to RFU National Leagues for the first time in in 2009. In 2010, the Club was registered as a full charity.
They plan to keep the celebrations going all season long, from the first home game of the season on 4th September, through an anniversary match on 13th November, to the Dorking RFC Centenary Ball on 11th December and finishing with the inaugural Dorking RFC 7s tournament and family day on 17th April 2021.
A recently opened medical and sports facility highlights how far the club has come since starting with one men’s team playing on Dorking’s Meadowbank. Apart from when the men’s team enlisted in World War II, the club has seen regular rugby and gone from strength to strength.
Now with more than 700 active players across 19 teams of men, women, girls and boys, play has taken place since 1972 at the Pavilion in Brockham. In 1980 the Dorking Minis began offering fun and training for younger players, which today is an inclusive mixed range of age groups from U7 – U18 for boys and girls. It was in 1988 that the first women’s team arrived, and currently there’s a regular women’s team as well as four girls’ teams ranging from U11 to U18.
In recent years the club has won the Powergen Vase at Twickenham in 2006, followed by a promotion to RFU National Leagues for the first time in in 2009. In 2010, the Club was registered as a full charity.
George Kruis & Kay Wilson former players
Success stories include former player George Kruis making his England debut against New Zealand at Twickenham in 2014, the same year another former player Kay Wilson represented England. George returned this year to open Dorking RFC’s £600,000 medical and sports facility, with at least two thirds of funds raised by more of 2,000 club members.
"Our facility is one that the club will benefit from for years to come, giving all players the opportunity to become the best version of themselves and have some fun doing it," said Club Chairman, Shaun Hammond.
Ted Ivens, former Chairman, President and continuing Trustee of DRFC said: "It’s fantastic that the club has been able to realise the medical facility ambition, what a superb way to start our 100th birthday.
“I’m sure back in 1921 few would have foreseen that Dorking RFC would have survived and thrived as it has with four consistent senior sides and an ever-expanding minis, youth and girls rugby sections.”
