North East RL

[Newcastle Thunder]

It's great to see the game growing in the North East 

 

The Alnwick Bears will be launched in 2018 creating the most northern RL club in England 

 

In 2017 we seen the creation of Yarm Wolves who started with an u14's side, they loved the sport that much that next year they are already putting plans in place to run U12's, u14's and u16's 

 

2017 seen the least amount of games cancelled and the highest participation rates ever recorded with other 600 juniors playing the game 

 

The North East now runs Primary RL u7,8,9,10's, friendlies plus a cup at u12's and full league and cups at u14 and u16

 

This years men's competition has seen a league of 8 compete and it's all going down to the last game of the weekend between Jarrow Vikings and Wallsend Eagles to decide who will take on Cramlington Rockets in the Final, next year sees plans in place for form a second team league. 

 

After the regular season we will again have the third annual North East Origin which will be a 3 game series between the best players 

North and South of the Tyne! 

 

With crowds at Thunder games on the up and the school game booming things are looking bright for the game in the North East 

 

 

Apologies for the positive story 

[westlondonfan]

Hey! That's not allowed!

[Exiled Wiganer]

I have long since looked on admiringly at the resilience and steady progress of our game in the North East.

Hats off to everyone who works so hard to grow the game up there. It's another heartland (just like the south east)!

[Eleftherios]

Indeed, there appears to be a lot more RL going on in the NE at the moment. Well done to all involved behind the scenes, particularly with the kids. Been to a couple of Thunder games this season and enjoyed them.

[Yosser]

Is the "Embed the pathway's" program still running in the NE ?  Where "for the first time, players have been divided up by height, weight, speed and position within age bands to help create more level playing fields and offer improved opportunities for all, recognising that young people physically develop at different rates....... This helps to reduce the drop-out rate from our game - something which all of us in Rugby League should be concerned with." 

http://www.rugby-league.com/article/33961/innovation-encourages-junior-development-in-the-north-east

[yipyee]

But but but the amateur game is dying, summer rugby is a failure stop anyone out of the M62 corridor playing as they are not interested in RL.

No point bothering in the NE that's football territory. 

 

Meanwhile in the real world well done!

An example of successful expansion and how backing a club like Thunder and not kicking them out of the league is the way to go! 

(Take note Hemel)...

[Lowdesert]

31 minutes ago, Newcastle Thunder said:

It's great to see the game growing in the North East 

 

The Alnwick Bears will be launched in 2018 creating the most northern RL club in England 

 

In 2017 we seen the creation of Yarm Wolves who started with an u14's side, they loved the sport that much that next year they are already putting plans in place to run U12's, u14's and u16's 

 

2017 seen the least amount of games cancelled and the highest participation rates ever recorded with other 600 juniors playing the game 

 

The North East now runs Primary RL u7,8,9,10's, friendlies plus a cup at u12's and full league and cups at u14 and u16

 

This years men's competition has seen a league of 8 compete and it's all going down to the last game of the weekend between Jarrow Vikings and Wallsend Eagles to decide who will take on Cramlington Rockets in the Final, next year sees plans in place for form a second team league. 

 

After the regular season we will again have the third annual North East Origin which will be a 3 game series between the best players 

North and South of the Tyne! 

 

With crowds at Thunder games on the up and the school game booming things are looking bright for the game in the North East 

 

 

Apologies for the positive story 

Great news and best wishes for continued success in your development.

A couple of questions.  Can you tell me how much benefit having Magic in the City has benefitted, or has it been an extra/over which has added to your efforts?  Will taking Magic away affect you and has Thunder been in much consultation with the RFL?

[terrywebbisgod]

Nice to see a club being launched in Alnwick for 2018.

[Scubby]

I lived up there briefly in the late 1990s around the time of Gatehead Thunder's launch. The amateur scene there was in its infancy. What I did find that there was a genuine goodwill towards the game there - even from those not familiar with it. The local news outlets did give it coverage albeit minuscule compare to football. It did seem a game that suited the area - sporty and heavily working class.

This is all wonderful news. Positive thread alert for those wishing to troll (i.e. ###### off!)

[Newcastle Thunder]

1 hour ago, Yosser said:

Is the "Embed the pathway's" program still running in the NE ?  Where "for the first time, players have been divided up by height, weight, speed and position within age bands to help create more level playing fields and offer improved opportunities for all, recognising that young people physically develop at different rates....... This helps to reduce the drop-out rate from our game - something which all of us in Rugby League should be concerned with." 

http://www.rugby-league.com/article/33961/innovation-encourages-junior-development-in-the-north-east

Yes the programme is now branded as Newcastle Thunder's Player Development Programme, we run this at U12/14 and 16 and actually schedule the development days into the league structure so they don't clash with community games, meaning every kid has the chance to come 

[Newcastle Thunder]

1 hour ago, Lowdesert said:

Great news and best wishes for continued success in your development.

A couple of questions.  Can you tell me how much benefit having Magic in the City has benefitted, or has it been an extra/over which has added to your efforts?  Will taking Magic away affect you and has Thunder been in much consultation with the RFL?

Magic has had a massive impact, its a real highlight of the year and connects the North East to the Super League.

 

We are very much lobbying for it to stay or at least have one major game up here per year 

An example could be a Challenge Cup 1/2 Final double header day at St James Park 

 

 

[terrywebbisgod]

2 minutes ago, Newcastle Thunder said:

Yes the programme is now branded as Newcastle Thunder's Player Development Programme, we run this at U12/14 and 16 and actually schedule the development days into the league structure so they don't clash with community games, meaning every kid has the chance to come 

Does the Thunder ETP program have any links with any other clubs that run ETP programs?

I know Cas,Wakefield and Featherstone have linked at u16 level but I think that's for further education opportunities but they are playing a few matches against  each other.

 

[Newcastle Thunder]

6 minutes ago, terrywebbisgod said:

Does the Thunder ETP program have any links with any other clubs that run ETP programs?

I know Cas,Wakefield and Featherstone have linked at u16 level but I think that's for further education opportunities but they are playing a few matches against  each other.

 

This is something we are looking to expand to in 2018 and bring some festival opportunity's for the players taking part 

[Utility Man]

And just to add to the positivity...Gateshead Storm are in the promotion mix in Div 3 of the National Conference, mixing it with some well established RL amateur big guns. Massively impressive.

[bowes]

There were twice as many clubs in the region about five years ago

[GeordieSaint]

12 minutes ago, bowes said:

There were twice as many clubs in the region about five years ago

How many were sustainable? Junior sections etc etc? I've played and spent a lot of time in the North East RL scene since 1999; whilst the total number of OA sides may be lower, it does seem a dn sight more structured, self-sustaining and developmental than I've seen it before.

[bowes]

7 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

How many were sustainable? Junior sections etc etc? I've played and spent a lot of time in the North East RL scene since 1999; whilst the total number of OA sides may be lower, it does seem a dn sight more structured, self-sustaining and developmental than I've seen it before.

There were about the same number of junior sides as now, but a lot of the clubs ran two or even three open age sides plus there were amateur clubs in places like Sunderland and Newcastle, and multiple clubs in Gateshead 

[Newcastle Thunder]

1 hour ago, bowes said:

There were about the same number of junior sides as now, but a lot of the clubs ran two or even three open age sides plus there were amateur clubs in places like Sunderland and Newcastle, and multiple clubs in Gateshead 

Sorry but that's just incorrect 

 

there are now more junior clubs then 5 years ago 

Cramlington Rockets u7's, 8's, 10's, u12's, u14's, 2x u16's, Men's 

Whitley Bay u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's u14's, Girls u12's, Girls u14's, Girls u16's, Woman's 

Wallsend Eagles u16's, Men's

Gateshead Storm u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Girls u12's, Men's A, Men's NCL 

Jarrow Vikings, Men's 

South Shields Wolfpack (new club lunched in 2017 u12's just training so far)

Peterlee Pumas u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, Men's 

Durham Demons Men's 

Durham Tigers u12's, u16's, Men's 

Yarm Wolves, u14's (new club) 

Catterick Crusaders u7's, u8's u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Men's 

Darlington Bulls u16's 

Defunct club from 5 years ago - Consett men's, Winlaton mens, Sunderland Men's

New age groups and clubs for 2018

Anlwick Bears u8's

u9's to be added to storm, rockets, Whitley, Catterick, Peterlee 

 Men's second team league to be added 

it's in far better shape then 5 years ago and more importantly the clubs are stronger and the standard is the best it's been ever 

sorry if all this positively is making some of the RL purists a little sick, maybe start a new thread bagging Toronto or the RFL, that might cheer you up  

 

 

[Newcastle Thunder]

We might be wrong but we believe we have more community clubs that surround Thunder then some SL clubs have like say Widnes or Leigh ? 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

What's rugby league like in Sunderland? Any chance of a lower league North East derby in the future?!

[Lowdesert]

19 minutes ago, Newcastle Thunder said:

Sorry but that's just incorrect 

 

there are now more junior clubs then 5 years ago 

Cramlington Rockets u7's, 8's, 10's, u12's, u14's, 2x u16's, Men's 

Whitley Bay u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's u14's, Girls u12's, Girls u14's, Girls u16's, Woman's 

Wallsend Eagles u16's, Men's

Gateshead Storm u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Girls u12's, Men's A, Men's NCL 

Jarrow Vikings, Men's 

South Shields Wolfpack (new club lunched in 2017 u12's just training so far)

Peterlee Pumas u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, Men's 

Durham Demons Men's 

Durham Tigers u12's, u16's, Men's 

Yarm Wolves, u14's (new club) 

Catterick Crusaders u7's, u8's u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Men's 

Darlington Bulls u16's 

Defunct club from 5 years ago - Consett men's, Winlaton mens, Sunderland Men's

New age groups and clubs for 2018

Anlwick Bears u8's

u9's to be added to storm, rockets, Whitley, Catterick, Peterlee 

 Men's second team league to be added 

it's in far better shape then 5 years ago and more importantly the clubs are stronger and the standard is the best it's been ever 

sorry if all this positively is making some of the RL purists a little sick, maybe start a new thread bagging Toronto or the RFL, that might cheer you up  

 

 

Exactly the opposite mate.  Just keep going.

[bowes]

34 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

What's rugby league like in Sunderland? Any chance of a lower league North East derby in the future?!

They had a club from 1979 to part way through the 2013 season.

In the 2013 season the leagues were as follows:

National Conference League: Peterlee Pumas

North East League Premier Division: Catterick Crusaders, Cramlington Rockets, Gateshead Storm, Jarrow Vikings, Miners, Sunderland City, Teesside Bulls, Wallsend Eagles (Teesside Bulls failed to start the season; Miners and Sunderland City failed to complete the season)

North East League Regional Division: Consett Steelers, Darlington, Durham Demons, Durham Tigers, East Cumbria Crusaders, Peterlee Pumas A, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Warriors

North East Merit League: Cramlington Rockets A, Gateshead Storm A, Hartlepool West View Warriors, Miners (after dropping out of premier division), North Yorkshire Wildcats, Peterlee Pumas B

Not sure going from that to 8 teams in four years is really something to celebrate.

[DoubleD]

1 hour ago, Newcastle Thunder said:

Sorry but that's just incorrect 

 

there are now more junior clubs then 5 years ago 

Cramlington Rockets u7's, 8's, 10's, u12's, u14's, 2x u16's, Men's 

Whitley Bay u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's u14's, Girls u12's, Girls u14's, Girls u16's, Woman's 

Wallsend Eagles u16's, Men's

Gateshead Storm u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Girls u12's, Men's A, Men's NCL 

Jarrow Vikings, Men's 

South Shields Wolfpack (new club lunched in 2017 u12's just training so far)

Peterlee Pumas u7's, u8's, u10's, u12's, Men's 

Durham Demons Men's 

Durham Tigers u12's, u16's, Men's 

Yarm Wolves, u14's (new club) 

Catterick Crusaders u7's, u8's u10's, u12's, u14's, u16's, Men's 

Darlington Bulls u16's 

Defunct club from 5 years ago - Consett men's, Winlaton mens, Sunderland Men's

New age groups and clubs for 2018

Anlwick Bears u8's

u9's to be added to storm, rockets, Whitley, Catterick, Peterlee 

 Men's second team league to be added 

it's in far better shape then 5 years ago and more importantly the clubs are stronger and the standard is the best it's been ever 

sorry if all this positively is making some of the RL purists a little sick, maybe start a new thread bagging Toronto or the RFL, that might cheer you up  

 

 

The Winlaton team was just a union jolly team as well so wasn't a surprise it folded

[The Daddy]

1 hour ago, bowes said:

They had a club from 1979 to part way through the 2013 season.

In the 2013 season the leagues were as follows:

National Conference League: Peterlee Pumas

North East League Premier Division: Catterick Crusaders, Cramlington Rockets, Gateshead Storm, Jarrow Vikings, Miners, Sunderland City, Teesside Bulls, Wallsend Eagles (Teesside Bulls failed to start the season; Miners and Sunderland City failed to complete the season)

North East League Regional Division: Consett Steelers, Darlington, Durham Demons, Durham Tigers, East Cumbria Crusaders, Peterlee Pumas A, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Warriors

North East Merit League: Cramlington Rockets A, Gateshead Storm A, Hartlepool West View Warriors, Miners (after dropping out of premier division), North Yorkshire Wildcats, Peterlee Pumas B

Not sure going from that to 8 teams in four years is really something to celebrate.

There you go. Nice negative gloomy post to balance things out. Well done mate.

[bowes]

13 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

There you go. Nice negative gloomy post to balance things out. Well done mate.

It's just really silly to pretend an 8 club league in the North East is a sign of growth. In fact you have to go back to 2009 to a find a North East league with as few as 8 clubs in it