DARTFORDIANS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
(Affiliated to the RFU, KCRFU, CLOBRFC, KSRFUR)
War Memorial Clubhouse, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1LW
Telephone (Clubhouse): 07707 039784

1st September 2025

Dear Fellow Dartfordian,

Following our AGM in July, I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Chairman of Dartfordians Rugby Club having been the Vice Chairman for many years. I am thrilled to be taking on this role, leading our fantastic club into a new era. I’d also like to introduce Steve Foley who has stepped up to take the role of Vice Chairman.

Before I move on to the new season, I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude to our outgoing Chairman, Jarrod, for his incredible leadership and dedication to the club over the last 17 years. Jarrod's amazing efforts have been instrumental in shaping the club into what it is today, and we are all deeply thankful for his service. Thankfully Jarrod is not stepping down completely and taken up the vacant Secretary role as we transition to this new era. We also wish Jarrod continued success with the Kent RFU as Chairman of Game Development.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to Chef Steve for his tireless work in providing food on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Thankfully we have not lost your culinary skills and warm hospitality forever and are grateful you will continue with the following first team pre-match lunches:

• 25th October v Brighton
• 13th December v Sutton & Epsom
• 31st January v Canterbury 2
• 28th March v Old Colfeians

I would like to welcome Charlie Parnell who will be providing Saturday food and Pete will continue leading Sunday mornings plus a big thanks to Megan and her staff for their tremendous service and overall support to everyone.

As Chairman, my aim is to build on the club's successes while exploring new ways to grow and develop. I am excited to work with members, players and our leadership team to ensure that Dartfordians Rugby Club remains a vibrant and inclusive community for everyone.

It is time to look forward to the new 2025/26 season. Last season, the 1s had a very good season in a very competitive London Regional 2 SE league and kick off their league campaign on September 6th, ironically at home again to local rivals Sidcup RFC when we also have the Family Fun Day with lots of activities, DJ Kev and a band post-match. The Women kick off their league season on September 21st at home against Streatham & Croydon and the Junior club is back on September 7th.

Here’s to another great season for all and we look forward to welcoming old and new members to the War Memorial Clubhouse, with the new welcomed to the Dartfordians family.

The fixture lists are being added to the Club website as soon as they are available and can be seen at www.dartfordiansrfc.co.uk

At the AGM in July the annual subscriptions were increased for Senior playing and Family memberships, which was a move reluctantly supported due to the increased cost of running the facilities. We have seen new officers elected to various roles, but there is always room for more – if you are keen to help out and understand which roles are free then please let me know.

After a very warm Summer, we are thankful for the investment that was made by the Old Dartfordians Association for the borehole project which has enabled the ground staff to water the pitches consistently over the Summer and ensure our playing surfaces are as good as possible. Thank you to Andy Mason and the team for their constant hard work on the grounds.

I would encourage you to join the Crown Club, if you are not currently a member, as all the funds are used to assist with developments as well as provide monthly cash prizes which Crown Club members are put in the draw for. Once again, the application form is on the club’s website under the ‘Information’ and ‘Documents’ tabs.

Please join the Club website www.dartfordiansrfc.co.uk, if you have not already and keep an eye out for all the latest news, results and events on the site, Facebook and Twitter. We are in the process of understanding how best to streamline our social media sites and access to those, so watch out for more news on this matter soon.

The Club wishes all our members all the very best for the coming season. Enjoy the time spent together learning, improving, playing, socialising whilst always respecting the officials and supporters from other teams. I know we will have more great success this season and when we do let us share in it as a Club.

Sponsors.

Once again, I would like to give huge thanks to all of our sponsors – RTS remain our main sponsor for a further year, but we are working on obtaining sponsorship from as many varied businesses/individuals as possible. The club continues to look for new sponsors and I would encourage you to let me know of anyone who you think may be interested. We would definitely welcome a conversation.

Volunteers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all in advance for any voluntary work that you take on throughout the season - whatever it is goes a long way to moving the club forward and we are only as good as we are due to your commitment.

Anyone who wants to support the Club by volunteering please let me know - we have several positions that we are looking to fill (advertised in the club house), so please contact me and I will be pleased to pass on further information.

Our Club is built on volunteers, so please join those already involved and share the burden of responsibility, thereby making it easier for all.

There are many more areas that we are keen to build out volunteer levels, so if you are interested in helping to build the Dartfordians legacy then please let me know.

International Tickets

The Expression of Interest form for the 2025 Autumn Internationals and 2026 Guiness Six Nations is now on the website, posted in the news section on 19th August – please remember you have to have paid your subs to become eligible to be considered for tickets and please follow the instructions on the form.

It is imperative that if you are lucky enough to purchase tickets they must be returned to the Club if it turns out that you can no longer go. A full refund will be made and a new home for those tickets will be found amongst our membership.

Note that the applications for the Autumn Internationals must be submitted by 28th September 2025 and 2nd November for the Six Nations.

Crown Club

As the continuous development of the facilities will need to be funded, I would ask that you all become members of the Crown Club, the proceeds from which go towards the operation and development of the Club and ground. A Crown Club application form is on the website under the Documents section via the Information tab at the top. Please complete and forward to The Crown Club, Old Dartfordians Association, War Memorial Clubhouse, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1LW. Alternatively, you can leave them behind the bar or pass directly to Martin Gubby.

Annual Subscription

Annual Subscriptions are now due and for family and playing members, please pay via the RFU’s main GMS portal. For Social membership, there is also the ability to pay on GMS or via by Credit/Debit card machine (behind the bar).

The Family Membership is £174 a season and includes siblings and social membership for the parents. Senior Membership is now £204 per season, and the Social Membership fee is £84 for the year. Students are expected to pay the £84 subs level. Please note that although the Rugby Club has arranged basic insurance for all their members they are only covered if they are a fully paid up member of the Club – so don’t delay submitting your subs! All players should also look at taking out their own separate playing insurance if they wish to have wider cover on top of that provided by the RFU.

Subscriptions shall be due on the 1st September in each year and shall be at the following rates:-

a) Full Members - An Annual Subscription of £204 per season, payable by October in one lump sum or by standing orders throughout the season. Senior Players who look to obtain Family Membership will also pay £204, rather than the £174 below.

b) Mini, Junior, Academy Members £174 Annual Subscription (This equates to a family membership)

c) Students £84 per season

d) Non Playing (Social) Members, Minimum Annual Subscription of £84.

GMS Membership Form

Each parent will need to register their child or children on the England Rugby’s GMS site, and it is hugely important that this is carried out in a timely manner. Please link in with your age group coaches and admin staff and they will assist with any questions or queries. England Rugby is using this system to ensure GDPR regulations are adhered to and to ensure that they fully understand the playing strengths of the clubs in England.

This is now also the case for ALL senior players across the club.

Codes of Conduct

Finally, you will find the following on the website under the Documents section via the Information tab at the top:

• Please Respect Our Neighbours
• Code of Conduct for Players
• Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians/Carers and Spectators

Please take your time to read and familiarise yourselves with these codes of conduct.

Please be aware of the important Kent County disciplinary rules - any adult, whether a player, coach or parent will be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing with Kent County RFU if they break the rules and are red carded. There are NO exceptions to this and there will also be fines imposed by the Club on the offenders.

Please can we continue to respect our neighbours, ensure that if you find litter on the ground pick it up or ask the person dropping it to do so, to ensure that all players, parents and officials are respected in the true traditions of the game of rugby union.

If you have any ideas, feedback, or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out. I look forward to meeting many of you throughout the season at upcoming matches and events.

COYD!!!

Yours in rugby,

Gavin Renno

Chair
Dartfordians RFC
Email: chairman@dartfordiansrfc.co.uk