
Pre match activity opens with Colts festival
August’s pre season friendly against Rotherham Titans not only saw the Newcastle Falcons maintain their solid pre-season form but also saw the launch of the Newcastle Rugby Foundation’s 2017/18 programme of pre-match festivals.
An integral part to match days at Kingston Park Stadium, the Rotherham game saw the Foundation’s coaches put on a Colts festival for seven teams, who took advantage of the opportunity to have an opening run out at the home of Aviva Premiership Rugby in the North East.
Teams from Durham City, Houghton, Northern, Percy Park, Sunderland, Tynedale and West Hartlepool RFCs played a series of games on the main and west pitches ahead of the match against the Titans, in what was their first opportunity to play in competitive, contact games.
And with the season set to get underway in nine days time with the visit of Worcester Warriors, the Newcastle Rugby Foundation has confirmed the matches that will be supported by junior rugby.
First up will be the visit of Leicester Tigers, on Sunday 29th October, where U9s and U10s will take part in a festival, before a girl’s festival for the U13/U14 and U15 age groups support the Falcons European Rugby Challenge Cup fixture against Enisei STM over the weekend of January 12/13/14.
The ever popular Land Rover Cup for U11 & U12s team will take place ahead of Northampton Saints visit on the weekend of 23/24/25 March, while a U7s and U8s Festival will be held ahead of the visit of Sale Sharks.
The year’s activity will conclude with the final game of the season on May 5th with a cross pitch 7s festival ahead of the Aviva Premiership game against Wasps, with entries now open for all events.
Newcastle Rugby Foundation senior community development officer Gavin Beasley said: “Festivals are a great opportunity for the clubs in our region to play against teams they may not do so during the regular season.
“As well as this they also have the opportunity to play on the main pitch at Kingston Park and then stay to watch their favourite Newcastle Falcons players making them a great day out for families were rugby is a big part of what they do.”
For more information on this year’s festivals and entering team’s, please contact Gavin Beasley via email gavin.beasley@newcastle-falcons.co.uk