The Northumberland Senior Plate is an annual rugby union competition held among the clubs of the Northumberland RFU. It was first played during the 2001–2002 season and serves as the second tier county cup for the Northumberland Rugby Union, which encompasses Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
The plate was originally introduced in 2001-2002 for the first round losers in the Northumberland Senior Cup, as it became clear that some clubs would not reach the latter stages of the Cup. Since then, the competition has undergone various changes. From the mid-2000s until COVID-19 the competition was open to the 9th to 16th best-placed clubs in the league pyramid. From 2021 to 2025 the competition only allowed clubs from Level 7 and 8 as well as some 2nd XVs. Tynedale II became the first 2nd XV to win the competition in 2025. From the beginning of the 2025–26 season the competition reverted, partly, to its original conception. Losers in the Northumberland Senior Cup 1st Round dropped into the Senior Plate 1st Round along with Clubs placed 9th and below in the league pyramid.
The current holders are Novocastrians who defeated Percy Park 42-24, in the 2026 cup final. All Senior Plate Finals have been held at various venues in the county and takes place on Easter Saturday.
The Senior Plate is currently the second most important county cup competition for club sides based in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear typically competing at tier 7 (Durham/Northumberland 1), tier 8 (Durham/Northumberland 2) and tier 9 (Durham/Northumberland 3) of the English rugby union system. The format is a knock-out cup with a quarter-final, semi-final and final, which is played at a neutral ground in April.
Northumberland Senior Plate Winners Year Winners Score Runners Up 2002 Ashington 37–23 North Shields 2003 Berwick 36–19 Ashington 2004 Ponteland 22–8 Wallsend 2005 Gosforth 18–7 North Shields 2006 Ashington 23–18 Wallsend 2007 Wallsend 18–17 Gosforth 2008 Ashington 28–27 Northumbria University 2009 Northumbria University 46–5 Ponteland 2010–2011 No Competition played 2012 Medicals 27–19 Rockcliff 2013 Northumbria University 78–17 Novocastrians 2014 Blyth 37–31 Berwick 2015 Ponteland 32–23 Novocastrians 2016 Novocastrians 41–3 Ponteland 2017 Ponteland 21–18 Rockcliff 2018 Novocastrians 33–30 North Shields 2019 North Shields 24–23 Ponteland 2020–2021 No Competition due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom 2022 Medicals 32–26 Alnwick II 2023 Rockcliff 28–18 Novocastrians 2024 Ponteland W/O* Novocastrians 2025 Tynedale II 28–17 Medicals 2026 Novocastrians 42-24 Percy Park
By number of wins (clubs)
Team Wins Years Ponteland42004, 2015, 2017, 2024 Ashington32002, 2006, 2008 Novocastrians32016, 2018, 2026 Medicals22012, 2022 Northumbria University22009, 2013 Berwick12003 Blyth12014 Gosforth12005 North Shields12019Tynedale II 12025Rockcliff12023 Wallsend12007
Notes The 2024 cup final was not played and both clubs could not agree a date. After much debate Northumberland RFU awarded the title to Ponteland.
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