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

4th September 2026

Dear Fellow Dartfordian,

With my first season as Chairman completed, it is time to look forward to the new 2026/27 season with another busy and exciting 8 months ahead. Unfortunately, the RFU have delayed the start of competitive community rugby for two weeks due to the very hot and dry Summer. That has meant the Senior Men beginning their pre-season friendlies this weekend at Trinity RFC and games against Thurrock and Brockleians the following weekend. The first Men’s league games of the season are on Saturday 26th September at home when we will also be holding the Club Fun Day after its success last year. The Women kick off their league fixtures on Sunday 27th September and the Junior club is back this Sunday, 6th September. I wish everyone success this season and let’s show our support to all.
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 ever-increasing cost of running the facilities. There have been no changes to the leadership team and elected roles, but there are various crucial roles that need filling. If you are keen to help out and understand which roles are free, then please let me know.
After one of the hottest Summer’s on record, we continue to be thankful to the benefits of having the borehole and access to water. However, it will still take some time for the pitches to recover, especially in St Mary’s where it is not as straight forward to water due to being public grounds. I appreciate your patience; Andy Mason and the team are working hard to ensure we have the best playing grounds possible which we are thankful for.
I’d also like to express my thanks to Megan and her team for their wonderful bar service and support provided to functions throughout the season. As many will know, Megan is due to go on maternity leave soon and she will be missed this season, but I am sure Sally and Evie will do her proud! We wish Megan and Lewis all the very best as they get ready to welcome their little one. We hope everything goes smoothly for the arrival and look forward to their debut at Bourne Road! I also would like to thank Pete in running our Sunday kitchen and Steve Taylor’s continued support and running the following first team Saturday pre-match lunches:
• 3rd October v Bromley
• 5th December v Sutton & Epsom
• 30th January – ‘Philpot Memorial Lunch’ v Brighton
• 6th March v Battersea Ironsides
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, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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, it 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, 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 application form for the 2026 Autumn Internationals and 2027 Guiness Six Nations will shortly be available on the website, posted in the news section. Please remember you must 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.
Crown Club
I would encourage you to join the Crown Club run by the Old Dartfordians Association, 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. The application form is on the club’s website under the ‘Information’ and ‘Documents’ tabs.
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.
Kit Shop
Following the sad news last Christmas that Winston’s (Junior kit supplier) were closing down, the club has signed a full club partnership with Akuma for all playing kit. This is an exciting development and there will also be a wide range of leisurewear for all members. Work is going on behind the scenes to put this together and restock the kit shop so please look out for a further announcement soon.
Player Registration via GMS
All players; minis, juniors and seniors, are required to register themselves annually to play rugby for RFU member clubs. Adult players and age grade parents/guardians should log into their GMS account and renew their registration, and it should only take 30 seconds. 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 and also help new members to the club. 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.
Annual Subscriptions
Annual Subscriptions are now due 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 £180 a season in full or £196 by instalments and includes siblings and social membership for the parents. Senior Membership is now £210 per season in full or £224 by instalments, and the Social Membership fee is £90 for the year. Students are expected to pay the £90 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 £210 per season in one lump sum or £224 by instalments over 8 months (September to April) purchased via GMS. Senior Players who look to obtain Family Membership will also pay £210 or £224, rather than £180 or £196 below.
b) Mini, Junior, Academy Members - £180 Annual Subscription in one lump sum or £196 by instalments over 8 months (September to April) purchased via GMS (this equates to a family membership).
c) Students £90 per season.
d) Non-Playing (Social) Members, Minimum Annual Subscription of £90.
Please consult the user guide on the website or refer to your Team manager or Section Chair, who will be happy to help.
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 catching up with you all throughout the season at upcoming matches and events.
COYD!!!
Yours in rugby,
Gavin Renno
Chair
Dartfordians RFC
Email: chairman@dartfordiansrfc.co.uk