NOVOS RFC UPDATE GRAHAM WARD

NOVOS RFC UPDATE

BY GRAHAM WARD (74-81) PRESIDENT OF NOVOCASTRIANS RFC

There is a long, proud history of

connection between the school, the ONA and Novocastrians RFC, stretching back to the 19th Century. Over the next few years, we will be celebrating three significant milestones. In 2024, it will be our 125th anniversary, and in 2028 Novos will celebrate the centenary of our clubhouse and grounds, Sutherland Park in Benton, named of course after Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland (1878-1883), the school’s most generous benefactor, who later bequeathed the ground to the school.

First however, the 2019-20 season sees the 50th anniversary of Novos becoming an ‘open’ club. From its formation in 1899, Old Novocastrians had to be either an old boy or Master of the school. The club was strong and successful locally, particularly in the 30s and early 60s. However, by 1969 the club was at a low ebb, and it was decided to open the club to members with no RGS association. The name also changed, dropping the ‘Old’ and we became Novocastrians RFC. Club Captain that season was Vic S Crew (58-64) and the President was the late W ‘Eric’ Reeve (36-45).

Over the last half century, the decision has proved to be the correct one, and the club has developed and grown in all respects, now having hundreds of playing members, male and female, boys and girls. The welcome received, and friendships made has helped hundreds of formers students choose to remain in the city. We still regularly turn out four mens senior sides, and an occasional veterans team. This comes against a backdrop where some local clubs now struggle to get two teams out. The 1st XV plays in Durham & Northumberland 1, and this season will play league games against local clubs including Northern, Medicals, Rockliff, North Shields, Westoe and Gateshead. In 1992, we started a ladies team which over the next decade or so included seven full international players. The 1st XV play in the second tier of national competition, and a 2nd XV entered the league structure last season. There are few local fixtures for our ladies though, and Harrogate will be the nearest away game for the 1st XV this season. Of the England Ladies World Cup winning team of 2014, captain Sarah Hunter, Katy McLean and Tamara Taylor had all played for Novos early in their careers, and the team was managed by Janette Shaw, former player and current club Secretary.

The club has a vibrant mini and youth section, with hundreds of boys and girls playing and training every Sunday. There are still plenty of RGS boys playing at the club and increasingly, RGS girls. Girls (and women’s) rugby is growing quickly, and Novos provide an unmatched opportunity in the area. When will we have our first female ON representing Novos Ladies?

After becoming an open club, ONs living in the Newcastle area still joined Novos, and that continued to be the case until the early 90s, when numbers slowed down. League rugby provided opportunities to play in higher leagues than Novos, impacting on recruitment from ONs. This is reflected by there only being two ONs serving as Captains since 1991; Peter Fay (79-89) in 1999-00 and Mike Barker (84-94) in 2003-04. The same is true of club Presidents, and since Richard Deas (57-67) was President in 2003, only two have been ONs; John Dias (71-73) in 2011-12 and me. The next President is also an ON, Colin Chater (75-83).

This trend has been reversed though, and recent leavers playing for Novos 1st XV include Lewis Chater (05-15), Jonno Wilkes (05-15), Bruno Smith (05-15), Dan Whitaker (05-15), Gus Antons (07-14), Tommy Bilclough (06-17), Isaac Robinson (06-17), Henry Wilson (06-16), Tom Brown (08-13), George Waterhouse (11-19) and most recently, Jamie Lishman (07-18).

Links continue between the school and Novos, and ONs will always receive a warm welcome at the club, including of course at the John Elders Memorial match. As we look to celebrate our three anniversaries, Novocastrians RFC would be delighted if ONs from any era were able to lend or donate to the club, any club memorabilia which they might still have, perhaps hiding in the loft! Please contact Jane Medcalf.