185.248.254.2 at 14:26, 26 June 2025

2025-06-26T14:26:24Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Westoe RFC
| image = South_Shields_Westoe_RFC.png
| imagesize = 120
| fullname = Westoe RFC
| union = [[Durham County Rugby Football Union|Durham County RFU]]
| location = [[South Shields]], [[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1875}}
| ground = Wood Terrace
| capacity =
| chairman = Paul Henry
| coach = Forwards coach - Rob Scorer, Backs coach - Austin De Waal <ref name =nesmur/>
| captain = Rhys Reynolds <ref name =nesmur>{{cite news
| last = Crickmer
| first = Clive
| title = Sam's still the man for Westoe
| date = 2008-09-08
| url = http://www.shieldsgazette.com/local-rugby/Sam39s-still-the-man-for.4464315.jp
}}</ref>
| league = [[Durham/Northumberland 2]]
| season = 2024-25
| position = 8th
| url = https://southshieldswestoeclub.co.uk/westoe-rfc-home/
| pattern_la1 = _thinwhiteborder
| pattern_b1 = _upper red
| pattern_ra1 = _thinwhiteborder
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 =
| leftarm1 = ff0000
| body1 = 000055
| rightarm1 = ff0000
| shorts1 = 000055
| socks1 = ff0000
}}
'''Westoe RFC''' is a [[Rugby Union]] Football Club which currently plays in [[Durham/Northumberland 2]] (tier 8 of the [[English rugby union system]]) at Wood Terrace, [[South Shields]].<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc2>{{cite web
| title = Westoe RFC
| publisher = Westoe RFC
| url = http://www.westoerfc.com/index.php
| accessdate =2008-09-14}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/westoerfc/news/westoe-rugby-club-driving-forward-with-a-new-name-1469062.html|title=Westoe Rugby Club 'driving' forward with a new name and a new sponsor|publisher=South Shields Westoe RFC (Pitchero)|date=18 August 2015}}</ref>

==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<ref name=westrfc1/> [[Westoe]] RFC is South Shields' longest established rugby club. Originally formed in 1875,<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc2/> the club has been on the same ground at Wood Terrace since its formation,<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc2/> 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.<ref name=westrfc1/>

The club was formed when Charlie Green and his friends, all aged 16 to 19, crossed the [[River Tyne]] on the [[Shields Ferry|Tyne ferry]] after winning a match against Tynemouth, a prominent local rugby club at the time.<ref name=westrfc1/>

In 2005, South Shields Westoe RFC, to the interest of [[South Shields]], had a notable Intermediate Cup run.<ref name=westrfc32>{{Cite news| title = WESTOE GRIT WIPES STAINES CLEAN AWAY | newspaper = South Shields Gazette | date = 2005-03-07 |accessdate=2007-10-24 | url = http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/WESTOE-GRIT-WIPES-STAINES-CLEAN.964518.jp }}</ref> In the semi-final, being the underdogs, they beat much fancied Staines for a passage to [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] the national stadium,<ref name=westrfc32/> taking many travelling fans.<ref name=westrfc32/> Unfortunately in the final the first team were beaten by giants [[Morley R.F.C.]] from [[Yorkshire]].<ref name=westrfc1>{{cite web
| title = Westoe RFC
| publisher = Westoe RFC
| url = http://www.westoerfc.com/index.php?contents=9800
| accessdate =2008-09-14 }}</ref><ref name=westrfc32/> In the same 2004/05 season the defensive side finished champions in the Division North two, an achievement for the club.<ref name=westrfc1/>

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.<ref name=nat1>{{Cite news | last = Crickmer | first = Clive | title = Wonderful Westoe make the big-time |
newspaper = Shields Gazette| date = 2009-04-20 | url = http://www.shieldsgazette.com/local-rugby/Wonderful-Westoe-make-the-bigtime.5186229.jp }}</ref><ref name=nat2>{{Cite news | title = Westoe Rugby Club make history! | newspaper = Shields Gazette | date =2009-04-20 | url = http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/Westoe-Rugby-Club-make-history.5186245.jp }}</ref>

==First team==
In 2009/10, the club’s first team competes in the [[English rugby union system|English rugby union league]] and plays in the [[National League 2 North|National League Two North]] after being crowned champions of the Northern League One in the 2008/09 season, [http://www.rfu.com/fixtures/MatchByDivision.aspx?DivID=11395841] [http://www.rfu.com/fixtures/ViewClubDetail.aspx?TeamID=5746284&CompetitionID=5730101&LeagueID=11395841&sType=League] 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]] champions: 1999–00
*[[Durham/Northumberland 1]] champions: 2000–01<ref name=westrfc1/>
*[[North 1 East]] champions: 2004–05<ref name=westrfc1/>
*Intermediate Cup Runners up 2005<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc32/>
*[[National League 3 North|North Division 1]] champions: 2007–08<ref name=nat1/><ref name=nat2/>

==Notable current and former players==
* [[James Gowans (rugby union)|James Gowans]], a Scotland international player.
*[[Joe Shaw (rugby union)|Joe Shaw]], a Newcastle Falcons player<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc32/>
*[[Dave Wilson (rugby union)|David Wilson]], a Bath prop and also an England international<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc32/>
*[[Katy McLean]], [[Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.]] and [[England women's national rugby union team |England Women's National Rugby Union Team]]<ref name=westrfc1/><ref name=westrfc32/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website}}

{{National League 2 North}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westoe Rfc}}
[[Category:Rugby union teams in England]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1875]]
[[Category:Sport in South Shields]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Tyne and Wear]]

South Shields Westoe RFC - Revision history

185.248.254.2 at 14:26, 26 June 2025