RUGBY league side Kent Ravens will not play at Princes Park until the end of the summer, to allow the playing surface to regenerate after its first few months of football.

The Ravens were due to begin their 2007 season at Princes Park, but are now likely to play all but their final two games at an alternative venue.

A council spokesman said the pitch, used by Dartford Football Club, needs a summer of rest.

He said: "Princes Park is a very high quality sports facility with one of the best pitches in the country.

"However, it is still new in terms of playing surfaces and it’s essential that the pitch is intensely managed during the first season of use to ensure it establishes full maturity.

"This includes a period of rest to allow the pitch to regenerate which needs to take place after the football season, during June and July. After this the pitch will be ready for full use and in subsequent years the summer renovation period can be adapted to reflect the use by both football and rugby."

Ravens chairman Alan Bacon said the club is in the process of looking for an alternative ground in the Dartford borough. Founded in 2004, the Ravens had previously played at Brockleians RFC, Eltham.