Kingston Park was alive with energy, enthusiasm and community spirit as Newcastle Rugby Foundation proudly hosted the 2025 Defender Cup on Good Friday, 18^th April 2025, ahead of Newcastle Falcons game against Northampton Saints.  

Over 650 young players from across the North East and Cumbria descended on Kingston Park for an action-packed day of rugby, where young aspiring players competed in the Under-11s and Under-12s age categories representing 34 grassroots clubs.  

Now in its second year, the Defender Cup continues to grow in scale and impact, offering young players the unique opportunity to play on a Premiership pitch, experience a professional matchday atmosphere, and showcase their skills in front of family, friends, and rugby fans. 

The day saw a fantastic mix of competitive rugby and great sportsmanship, with all teams giving their all in a series of closely contested games. The level of talent on display was a testament to the hard work being done by coaches and volunteers across local clubs to nurture the next generation of rugby stars. 

After a brilliant day of action, we were proud to crown our age group winners: 

• Under-11s Winner: Morpeth RFC 

• Under-12s Winner: Darlington RFC 

The Defender Cup is a cornerstone of our mission to grow the game and provide inspiring opportunities through rugby. Events like this are made possible thanks to the dedication of community coaches, referees, club volunteers, and the generous support of our partners at Defender. 

We’d like to thank everyone who made the day such a success – the players, coaches, families, and volunteers – and we look forward to welcoming even more teams to Kingston Park in 2026! 

Stay tuned to our channels for team photos, matchday highlights and winner announcements.