DIOK Rugby Club (RC DIOK Leiden)

What DIOK Rugby Club (RC DIOK Leiden) does

RC DIOK Leiden is a member-owned Dutch rugby club (vereniging) founded on March 28, 1971 in Leiden, Zuid Holland, and registered as a non-profit association (KvK 40446245). The club serves approximately 700+ members across a complete age-pathway — from youth teams (Guppen ages 4-5 through Colts ages 16-17), to senior men's and women's teams competing in the Ereklasse (the highest national tier of Dutch rugby, which DIOK has occupied continuously since the 1975-1976 promotion), to recreational Touch Rugby and non-playing donateur memberships. The club is governed by a volunteer board led by Chairman Martijn Peetsold and operates two natural-grass match fields plus a training field at its Smaragdlaan/Sportpark De Morsch home, an artificial-turf training field at Boshuizerkade, and a new third field at Morspark (acquired 2025) which will be converted to an international-dimension artificial-turf pitch by end of 2026.

DIOK's product surface is structured rugby participation rather than technology. Core offerings include competitive team programs (Heren 1 and Dames 1 Ereklasse, Heren 2 Future, Heren 3 4th class, and youth GTBM/CJC categories), a Friday Night Touch Rugby format for low-barrier entry, the DIOK TV in-house live-streaming service broadcasting Ereklasse and Future matches on YouTube, and an annual membership program with tiered pricing ranging from €193/yr (youngest Guppen) to €453/yr (senior men and women), plus student (€398), recreational (€340), training-only (€250), and donateur (€185) tiers collected via ClubCollect. Supporting activities include the Canterbury-branded merchandise shop, Club van 100 (€100/yr donor circle funding youth development), DIOK Lions (an affiliated Lions Club chapter focused on charitable fundraising), and Stichting Nazorg Sport Gehandicapten (a foundation providing care for rugby players with permanent sport-related disabilities, established 1988).

Revenue is generated through four streams: annual membership subscriptions (the largest, with partial-season pro-rating and multi-child discounts), local and regional sponsorship and partnership packages (Ambiance, Grolsch, TK Advocaten, Teeuwen, HBK, Van Diemen, KVDZ, HVDZ and others, exchanged for on-field signage, kit placement, web/social visibility, and an annual Six Nations partner trip), Club van 100 donations, and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, relying on word-of-mouth within Leiden, school outreach, Lions Club engagement, a 6-week free trial period, and digital channels (website, newsletter 'Breakdown', Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, SponsorKliks). The club holds no external investors, patents, or technology assets; it is fully member-funded.

Name

DIOK Rugby Club (RC DIOK Leiden)

Legal name

Rugbyclub DIOK Leiden

Website

https://diokrugby.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DIOK is a member-owned, non-profit rugby club in Leiden, Netherlands, founded 1971, serving 700+ members across a complete age-pathway from youth to Ereklasse seniors, with revenue from membership fees, local sponsorships, and donor programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Rugby Club Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Rugby club membership
• Youth rugby programs
• Competitive rugby teams
• Touch rugby sessions
• Community sports club

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees paid per season (July 1 – June 30). Fees vary by age category, ranging from €193/year for the youngest (Guppen) to €453/year for senior men and women. Partial-season rates apply for mid-season sign-ups (75% from Dec 1, 50% from Feb 1, 25% from April 1). Multi-child discounts of 10% apply. Collected via ClubCollect.
2. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Local and regional businesses sponsor DIOK in exchange for signage at fields, logo placement on match kit, website and social media mentions, partner events and networking gatherings, and an annual partner trip to a European Six Nations match.
3. Club van 100 (Club of 100): Annual donations of €100 per year from the Club van 100, a supporters' circle that provides direct financial support to youth player development, equipment, and tournament costs. Open to both members and non-members.
4. Merchandise Sales: The DIOK shop sells Canterbury-branded club apparel (excluding socks). Items are ordered via Canterbury webshop with club-specific access. Mouth guards are sold at the bar. The DIOK shop is open Thursday evenings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DIOK operates as a membership-based amateur rugby club offering tiered seasonal membership (€193-€453/year) that grants access to age-grouped teams (Guppen 4-5 through senior 18+) competing in national leagues, plus training, coaching, gym access, and participation in tournaments including international events like Béthune. The club also sells branded merchandise through Canterbury, broadcasts matches via DIOK TV, and operates charitable sub-initiatives (Club van 100, DIOK Lions, SNSG) as part of the membership ecosystem.

Product overview

DIOK Rugby Club operates as a comprehensive rugby sports club offering a multi-tiered product portfolio centered on competitive rugby teams at various levels. The core offerings include senior teams competing at the highest national level (Heren 1 and Dames 1 in the Ereklasse since 1975-1976), development teams (Heren 2, Heren 3), and extensive youth programs spanning ages 4-17 through GTBM (Guppen, Turven, Benjamins, Mini's) and CJC (Cubs, Junioren, Colts) structures. Supporting services include Touch Rugby (Friday Night Touch) for accessible play, the DIOK TV live streaming service for match broadcasts, and community initiatives such as DIOK Lions (charitable fundraising), Stichting Nazorg Sport Gehandicapten (support for injured athletes), and Club van 100 (youth development funding). Membership programs are available across multiple categories with tiered pricing based on age group and participation level.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DIOK Lions: A specialty Lions Club founded from the rugby club to create greater involvement and continuity for parents of youth members and people who support DIOK. Combines rugby core values with Lions ideal of 'We Serve' and focuses on fundraising for charitable causes.

Products and services

• DIOK Membership Program Structured annual membership tiers for all age groups (children 4-17, seniors 18+, students, training-only, recreational, and non-playing supporters) with prorated partial-season rates, multi-child family discounts, and subsidies available for low-income families.
• Youth Teams (GTBM and CJC) Age-grouped youth rugby programs for ages 4-17, with age-appropriate training and competition formats, international tournament participation (e.g., Béthune, France), and a development pathway to senior rugby.
• Senior Competitive Teams (Heren 1, Dames 1, Heren 2, Heren 3) Senior men's and women's rugby teams competing in the Ereklasse (Heren 1 and Dames 1), Futureklasse (Heren 2), and 4th class (Heren 3), with national championship titles in 1981-1990 (10 consecutive), 2001, 2019, and 2022.
• Touch Rugby / Friday Night Touch Accessible, low-contact variant of rugby played biweekly on Friday evenings, suitable for all ages and skill levels without tackles, scrums, or line-outs.
• DIOK TV Live Stream Live streaming service for Ereklasse matches (men and women) and the men's Future team, with professional equipment, mobile editing studio, and live commentary broadcasts via YouTube.
• DIOK Merchandise Shop (Canterbury-branded) Club-branded apparel ordered through the Canterbury webshop with club-specific access, alongside mouth guards sold at the on-site bar.
• Club van 100 (Donor Circle) Annual donation program (€100/year) for supporters contributing to youth rugby development, equipment, and tournament costs. Open to both members and non-members.
• DIOK Lions (Charitable Service Club) Charitable fundraising initiative combining DIOK rugby values with Lions Club 'We Serve' ideals, organizing events whose proceeds benefit charitable causes (Cardea, Hospice Xenia, Stichting Matchis, Leiden Sportzomer, Ukraine) and the club itself.

Quantifiable outcome

• DIOK Cubs won the national Bowl competition championship on May 9, 2026, defeating Bredase Rugby Club 36-0
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• K&G, Door Vriendschap Sterk, Flora Band, Adest Musica (Marching and Show Bands)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 June 2026Four leading marching/show bands participated in the Groot Taptoe Spektakel event at DIOK on June 6, 2026. The event combined music, marching band performances, and rugby demonstration, with proceeds supporting club activities and the participating orchestras' WMC (World Music Contest) preparations.
• Wereldmuseum LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025DIOK partners with the Wereldmuseum Leiden for the annual Matariki Festival, hosting a Māori Haka workshop on the museum's grounds. DIOK youth members (and friends) participate in the workshop, learning Māori cultural traditions and performing the haka Ka Mate. The 2025 edition drew over 50 DIOK youth participants, with a 2026 session planned for July 11.
• Rugby Nederland (Nationale Rugbybond)coreOthersDIOK is affiliated with Rugby Nederland, the official national rugby union governing the sport since 1932. Rugby Nederland organizes national competitions, trains and certifies coaches and referees, and manages Dutch national selection teams. DIOK's Ereklasse participation is administered through this federation. Rugby Nederland operates the Rugby Nederland app, which integrates with DIOK's club app for member administration.
• Lions Leiden DIOKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLions Leiden DIOK is a 'specialty club' founded from within DIOK to increase parent engagement and continuity of supporters. The Lions Club (worldwide: ~1.3 million members, ~50,000 clubs in 200+ countries) combines rugby core values with the Lions ideal of 'We Serve'. Lions Leiden DIOK organizes fundraising events where full proceeds benefit charitable causes (Cardea, Hospice Xenia, Stichting Matchis, Leiden Sportzomer, Ukraine) and the club itself, often doubling revenues.
• Stichting Nazorg Sport Gehandicapten (SNSG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SNSG foundation, active since 1988, supports rugby players who have suffered serious sport accidents resulting in permanent disability. Operating from within the Dutch rugby community, SNSG provides not only financial support but also care coordination, mobility assistance, employment retraining, and equipment. DIOK hosts information about SNSG on its website as part of its commitment to player welfare and safety awareness.
• SponsorKliksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorKliks is a free online shopping platform through which supporters generate financial contributions to DIOK at no additional cost. Purchases made via sponsorKliks.com/products/shops.php?club=11255 redirect a portion of spending to the club.
• Ambiance, Grolsch, TK Advocaten, Teeuwen, HBK, Van Diemen, KVDZ, HVDZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple local and regional businesses sponsor DIOK, displaying their logos on the club's website. Sponsors receive on-field signage, match-day scoreboard advertising, logo placement on match kit, website and social media visibility, invitations to partner events and networking gatherings, and an annual partner trip to a European Six Nations match.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• RC 't Gooi: RC 't Gooi is a Dutch amateur rugby club with comparable structure and regional member base, competing at national levels and serving as a structural operating peer.
• Delftse Studenten Rugby Club (DSRC): DSRC is a Dutch rugby club in Zuid-Holland that DIOK actively competed with historically (the DIOK founders were supported by Leidsch Studenten Rugby Gezelschap). It is a directly comparable regional peer with similar youth and senior team structures.
• RC Hilversum: Hilversum Rugby Club is another longstanding Dutch Ereklasse rugby club with a comparable member-owned amateur structure, multi-tier teams, and regional recruitment model — making it a directly comparable peer for league play and operating benchmarks.
• AAC Rugby Club: Amsterdamse Atletiek Club Rugby is one of the other top-tier Dutch rugby clubs competing in the Ereklasse, making it a direct on-field competitor and structurally comparable amateur rugby organization with similar membership-based operations and youth pathways.
• Rugby Club The Hague: Rugby Club The Hague is a Dutch rugby club competing in national divisions with similar member-based operations, regional recruitment, and team-tier structure to DIOK.
• Utrechtse Rugby Club (URC): Utrechtse Rugby Club is a comparable Dutch amateur rugby club with similar membership, sponsorship, and Ereklasse-level operations.
• Bredase Rugby Club: Bredase Rugby Club is a Dutch rugby club at national competition level that DIOK plays against directly (e.g., the 2026 Bowl final against Bredase RC's Cubs), making it a directly comparable peer in size, league positioning, and amateur member-based operations.

Broad incumbents

• Bristol Bears: Bristol Bears is a Premiership Rugby club that operates a much larger professional structure but shares the model of community/youth rugby development feeding into a top-tier senior team, making it a broad incumbent comparable for the pathway-to-elite model.
• Stade Français Paris: Stade Français is a historic French rugby club with a strong amateur/community base feeding into professional play; it operates a broader portfolio than DIOK but is comparable in the model of community-rooted rugby with elite senior teams.

Others

• Lions Clubs International: Lions Clubs International is the parent organization of the Lions Leiden DIOK specialty chapter, providing the framework for the community service and fundraising dimension of DIOK's operations — an ecosystem peer rather than a direct sports competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/dioktv
• Facebookfacebook.com/LrcDiok
• Instagraminstagram.com/diokrugbyleiden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diok-rugby-club

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DIOK Rugby Club (RC DIOK Leiden)