Newcastle Rugby Foundation had an action-packed community day at Sunday’s game against Caldy, including a festival, fun fair, dancers, parade, face painters and the launch of the new charity shirt.

The Under-9s and U10s festival was almost record-breaking with 900 players attending from 29 clubs. They even got to meet some of the Falcons’ first team players, getting their autographs and taking selfies.

This event was a testament to the growing interest and talent in the sport at a grassroots level.

However, the festivities didn’t stop at the rugby field. Besides the exhilarating match there was a range of activities which promised to keep everyone entertained, including a brand new fanzone and pre-match parade for all participants of the festival.

A Clubs Connection Event hosted by Matt Thompson, Newcastle Falcons’ chair of rugby, also took place.

Ambassadors and members of clubs involved in the Club Connections programme were invited by the Falcons to discuss what has been happening, and further opportunities to work closer together to help rugby prosper in the area.

Club Connections is proudly supported by Fusion for Business, who have helped local rugby clubs in the North East save thousands on their energy bills. Their aim is to boost the longevity of things needed to create new recurring grassroots sports for the next generations and beyond.

During half-time students from Newcastle College put on an impressive show. The performance was well-coordinated and featured a variety of talents including dancing and acrobatics. Additionally, as part of the entertainment, a T-shirt cannon was used to launch t-shirts into the stands, creating an exciting and fun atmosphere.

Overall, the half-time show was a great success and added to the enjoyment of the day.

The highlight for many was the eagerly-awaited launch of a new charity shirt.

The shirt is designed to support the Newcastle Rugby Foundation, with £5 from every purchase being donated to the charity. The Newcastle Rugby Foundation work with 15,000+ people in the North-East and Cumbria in some of the most deprived communities to activate positive change.

If you’re interested in getting your hands on the new charity shirt, there’s still time to make a purchase. However, it’s worth noting that the shirts are in limited supply, so act fast to avoid missing out.

You can purchase one by clicking here or visiting our store in person.