**Dartford Rugby: CHAIR'S CORNER - SOPHIE WARREN**
WE ARE BACK!!... FINALLY... The 21/22 season has officially started and DVRFC are back with a bang!

There is so much going on @TheLodge, I wanted to ensure that I kept you all updated throughout the year so I am pleased to welcome you to my first 'Chair's Corner'!
The first 12 weeks in office has been extremely busy for myself, my ExCom and all our Club volunteers. We have been busy implementing new internal processes and insuring all our paper work is up to date (head to our website https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dartfordvalleyrfc for all the important documents!), enrolling some of our amazing coaches onto coaching courses, ensuring our senior players are all signed up & registered for their league matches, getting all our members onto our
SPOND availability App ... and most importantly, our fixtures team have been busy plotting all our opposition for the next season. See below for more exciting updates!!

YOUTH ACADEMY
The amazing Dartford Youth Academy continues to go from strength to strength and the sun continues to shine...!
Our numbers are increasing week on week (250+ now!!) as the buzz of the new season starts. We have loads of games coming up across the 12 age groups - watch social media for Friday Night Lights fixtures and curtain raiser events before Senior fixtures!
We have just launched the DTDG (Dartford Talent Development Group) programme for girls & boys aged 14-16 who have been identified with potential County+ representative ability.
This talent pathway will ensure that all players that commit to the programme will be adequately prepared for RFU trials and fulfil their potential!
A special mention to the U16 boys who had a fantastic Friday night lights fixture v. Whitstable at the end of August. A winning start to their season, a buzzing atmosphere with over 200 people and a tiny taste of things to come for this year group! Go boys!

VALLEY ROSES
After a successful pre-season our Valley Roses, headed up by Katie Dootson and Bex Goodwin head to Southend on Sunday 26th September for their first EVER league game!
K.O is 2pm for anyone who wants to show support. We are all very excited for their season ahead, go on girls!!
Their first home game is Sun 3rd October, please come and support and welcome them home!

SENIOR MEN
Our 1st XV made a flying start to the season with a bonus point home win last Saturday against Bexley and take on Old G's away tomorrow.
Our super 2s face Shooters Hill this weekend as their season opener.
Please keep an eye out for all their news on our FB pages and all their upcoming fixtures are on the website!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Our first EVER 'Voluteer Spotlight' goes to the one-and-only Tom Castleton.
Tom is our resident wind-up BUT those who know him well, will know how much he does for our Club!
Not only is he a current & loyal 1st XV player, he coaches our transition tag and U10's youth squads, organises all our mini fixtures and is always at the end of the phone for both myself and our data and social teams.
Tom encapsulates the RFU core values and represents everything DVRFC stand for.
Thanks Coach Tom, we are proud you wear Red and Black!

DVRFC STAR PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Our first every DVRFC Star Player goes to Max Leachman from our U14s.
Max, just like coach Tom, has absorbed the RFU core values – Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and even Mr Eddie Jones (England Team Manager) and Ugo Monye (Geenral Rugby Legend) noticed these personality traits, going as far as awarding him a special recognition award for his attitude (see photo below) when he was lucky enough to visit Twickenham in August.
Max’s attitude didn’t just stay at HQ, he continues to work hard on and off the pitch and has been nominated for the Kent/Saracens U14s DDP pathway.
On Saturday, off his own back, turned up to the DVRFC 1st XV fixture, participated in the team talk, ran the water and helped with the balls – even running the line at certain points!
Max, you have gone above and beyond for the club recently and we are proud that we get to call you one of our own. Keep it up!!
I'll keep you updated with progress next month - including infrastructure news, representative awards, Community Social events and much more!!

Onwards & upwards!!

Sophie Warren
Dartford Rugby Chair
#stonevalleylodge
#dartfordrugby