Dorking RFC

Dorking RFC is delighted to announce the addition of 8 new players to the squad for the 2024/25 season. With a blend of experience and youth across a number of different positions, all have made a promising start, hitting the ground running in pre-season training as they each look to make an impact on the team. Here’s a look at our new players:

Luke Baldwin

Scrum Half

Joining us from Rosslyn Park, Luke Baldwin is a seasoned scrumhalf with premiership experience, having played alongside Tom Howe. After a beer with Tom following one of Dorking’s games last year, Baldwin was eager to reunite with his friend and join the team.

George Burnell

Hooker

George is a promising young hooker, who has chosen to spend a year at Dorking before heading to university. With Bath Academy experience and high-level school representation, George is working hard to hone his skills. Think of him as a budding Harry Thacker.

Will Burroughs

Back Row/Second Row

After stints in Australia and Bahrain, Will reached out to Dorking in the summer, after having heard positive things about the club. With family in the area, Will is eager to make his mark in the back row and second row positions and has been a stand out in pre-season so far.

Max Coyle

Winger/Fulback

Max, a familiar face, returns to Dorking RFC. After displaying remarkable loyalty to Old Reigatians upon leaving the Harlequins setup, Max is ready to take on National Rugby. With his versatility and speed, he’s well-suited for the back three positions and has been impressive in training.

Tom Hardwick

Fly Half/Centre

Tom, who has played premiership games at fly-half and inside centre for Leicester Tigers, joins us after moving to Newdigate. A former housemate of Dorking player Harry Mahoney at the Leicester Academy, Hardwick has shown great commitment to training and is looking forward to a productive season in Surrey.

Gareth Stephens

Centre/Winger

Following a similar path to Max from the Harlequins academy setup to Old Reigatians, Gareth brings solid representative experience. Predominantly a centre, his explosive power and agility make him a threat on the wing as well, he also has shown a fantastic attitude in training so far throughout pre-season.

Ryan Maguire

Second Row/Back Row

Ryan Maguire is a versatile back row and second row player with extensive National 2 experience. Previously with Worthing, Ryan is returning to rugby with renewed enthusiasm after a season out. We’re excited to see his contributions this year.

Tom Golder

Second Row

On loan from Harlequins, Tom Golder is a second-year Senior Academy second rower seeking National League level experience. Tom has fully embraced the training culture at Dorking, showcasing his impressive skill set. He’s a great addition, and we’re keen to help him progress further.

In addition to the players listed above, we have also had the pleasure of welcoming the following players who all decided to join the team ahead of pre-season:

• Nathan Jefferies
• Arlo Copp
• Joshua Loach
• Tom Godfrey

Very pleased with the impacts each of the new players have had since joining the squad, Director of Rugby, Armand Roux commented the following:

"I am very pleased that all these players have decided to join the Dorking drive. The fundamental aspect for any new player looking to break into a team is to show a positive attitude and train harder than those around them.

All the players listed above have done that so far, and I'm excited to see them grab their opportunities and enjoy their rugby in true Dorking fashion."