South Shields Westoe RFC (formerly Westoe RFC) is a

Rugby Union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

Football Club which currently plays in

Durham/Northumberland 1 Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of fourteen clubs, and is the seventh tier of the English rugby union system, as one of the 16 regional leagues, though is the highest level of local rug ...

(tier 7 of the

English rugby union system Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system. Women's Rugby union in England cons ...

) at Wood Terrace, South Shields. The club changed its name from Westoe RFC to South Shields Westoe RFC in August 2015, using the new name from the 2015-16 season onwards.

History

A family club where sons followed fathers and a traditional club, with a historical seafaring influence through the marine faculty at the college nearby

Westoe Westoe was originally a village near South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, but has since become part of the town and is now used to refer to the area of the town where the village once was. It is also an electoral ward for local politics purposes. ...

RFC is South Shields' longest established rugby club. Originally formed in 1875, the club has been on the same ground at Wood Terrace since its formation, after it agreed to level the former ridge and furrow farmland for sub rent with the local cricket club. It has shared the Wood Terrace ground with South Shields Cricket club to this day. The club was formed when Charlie Green and his friends, all aged 16 to 19, crossed the River Tyne on the Tyne ferry after winning a match against Tynemouth, a prominent local rugby club at the time. In 2005, South Shields Westoe RFC, to the interest of South Shields, had a notable Intermediate Cup run. In the semi-final, being the underdogs, they beat much fancied Staines for a passage to

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

the national stadium, taking many travelling fans. Unfortunately in the final the first team were beaten by giants

Morley R.F.C. Morley Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based in Morley, West Yorkshire. England. The club are famous for playing in a maroon kit and thus are nicknamed "The Maroons". They currently play in North 1 East, a level six league in the ...

from

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

. In the same 2004/05 season the defensive side finished champions in the Division North two, an achievement for the club. The first XV gained national league status in the 2008/2009 season after a thrilling finale to the season in which they had to beat Beverley away to ensure promotion. This was done in emphatic style and they will now play in national 2 north for the first time in its history.

First team

In 2009/10, the club’s first team competes in the English rugby union league and plays in the National League Two North after being crowned champions of the Northern League One in the 2008/09 season

the first time the club has been in this division.

First team honours

* Durham County RFU Senior Cup, Durham Senior Cup winners (9): 1882, 1895, 1901, 1914, 1937, 1950, 1951, 1956, 2008 *

North East 3 North East 3 was an English Rugby Union league which was at the ninth tier of the domestic competition and was available to teams in North East England. Promoted teams moved up to North East 2 while relegated teams dropped to either Yorkshire ...

champions: 1999–00 *

champions: 2000–01 *

North 1 East North 1 East is the sixth tier of the English rugby union domestic competition, formed in 1987 using the name North Division 2, involving clubs from the north of the country. There was also division known as North East 1 that began in 1987 f ...

champions: 2004–05 *Intermediate Cup Runners up 2005 * North Division 1 champions: 2007–08

Notable current and former players

* Joe Shaw, a Newcastle Falcons player * David Wilson, a Bath prop and also an England international * Katy McLean,

Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. Darlington Mowden Park is a professional rugby union club, based in Darlington, County Durham, England. They currently compete in National League 1, the third division of the Rugby Football Union domestic league competition pyramid, having a ...

and

England Women's National Rugby Union Team The England women's national rugby union team, also known as the Red Roses, represents England in women's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Women's Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. ...

References

External links

Official Site

League TableClub Details
{{DEFAULTSORT:Westoe Rfc English rugby union teams Rugby clubs established in 1875 Sport in South Shields