AS DORCHESTER Rugby Club get ready to celebrate their 150th anniversary with a black-tie ball at their Surcouf Park headquarters, two of its former youth players will attend as guests of honour.

Current Bath players Orlando Bailey and John Stewart will attend the evening at the club where their careers started.

Bailey, who has been nominated by the Rugby Players’ Association for the ‘15 under-23’ campaign, has been a regular for the Premiership side this season and part of the senior England squad during the Six Nations.

Stewart has made appearances this season for the West Country club and also for the England age group setup.

READ MORE: Dorchester end season with Swindon defeat

Bailey and Stewart played together for England in the U20s winning the U20 Six Nations together in 2021. Both players credit former Dorchester player, first XV coach and youth coach, Mike Sprules for a big part in their rise in the professional game.

The celebratory event will be a four-course meal with welcome drinks, along with a raffle for many prizes and an auction for some special items. This will be held in a large marquee at the club’s home starting at 7pm on Saturday, May 28.

Club chairman Tony Foot described the event as: “A great celebration for a community club that offers much more than just rugby on the pitch, but also to wider organisations locally.

“The longevity of the club is down to support not just from volunteers behind the scenes and its players, but to the many businesses who have generously helped us over the years.”

Poole-based company Care South have partnered with the club for this event along with many other local businesses supporting the black-tie ball.

The celebrations come after a good season for the county town outfit with three senior men’s sides, a ladies side combined with Weymouth & Portland along with a hugely successful youth section.

Tickets priced at £80 per person are still available from the club for the few remaining seats.

Dorchester finished their Tribute Southern Counties South season in eighth.

*Dorchester are donating 10 per cent of the profits to Ukraine charity appeals.