The Defender Cup

Newcastle Rugby Foundation are delighted to announce that the Defender Premiership Rugby Cup Festival will return to Kingston Park Stadium on Sunday the 29th of March, 2026.

The event welcomes rugby clubs from grassroots levels across Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria to Newcastle Falcons’ home ground for an action-packed day of rugby, where young aspiring players will compete in the Under-11s and Under-12s age categories.

Vital in fostering the values at the heart of the game, the Defender Premiership Rugby Cup is a key part of the grassroots rugby calendar each season that allows Defender to connect with the rugby community and the people at the heart of it.

Why is it special 

Defender has been supporting rugby at all levels in the UK for nearly two decades, from the grassroots to the elite. The festival is designed to provide aspiring young players with the chance to play competitive fixtures in a format to aid their development on and off the pitch, all within the spirit of rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship –aligning heavily with Newcastle Rugby Foundation’s own ethos.

Residential Half Term Camps

Sharpen and advance your rugby skills this Easter and Summer with Newcastle Rugby Foundation’s residential coaching camps! If you are looking to accelerate your rugby knowledge and skills in a safe, elite, and professional environment, then the Newcastle Rugby Foundation has your holiday break covered! From expert insight into nutrition and S&C, to game specific analysis, these residential camps have it all!

The camps have been redesigned to not just coach athletes through drills but to develop and challenge them to think like elite athletes. Running across multiple days at Durham School.

What to expect:

Each camp is designed to provide a full view of the professional game including;

• On pitch excellence: Rugby sessions delivered by Newcastle rugby foundation coaches, Newcastle Red Bulls players and coaches.
• Full bed and board for the over night stay at the school.
• Performance workshops.
• Professional video analysis.

For school years Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9.

Take ownership of their own development to become the best player they can be, book the Easter Resident Camp now!