Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC

Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC is a rugby union team based in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside in north-east England. The club play in Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland – the eighth tier of the English rugby union system, following the club's relegation from of Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland at the end of the 2024–25 season.

History

The rugby club was founded in 1887 at a large meeting held at Landreth's Hotel [now the Victoria], Whitley...it was resolved to re-establish The Rockcliff Football Club. ″The proceedings were most enthusiastic and the club commences with a very considerable list of members.".

Honours

• Northumberland Senior Cup (13): 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1909, 1920
• Northumberland Senior Plate: 2023
• Durham/Northumberland 1 champions: 1988–89
• Durham/Northumberland 2 champions: 2018–19

Notable players

• Stan Anderson, one Test match for England in the 1899 Home Nations Championship.
• Craig Hamilton Ex-Scottish international (5 caps), who previously played for both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby joined Rockcliff IXV in 2018 as player coach. He still continues to play in a social capacity at Rockcliff.
• Nathan Greenwood, England Rugby Under-18’s Sevens 2021–22 season and Newcastle Falcons winger since summer of 2022

References