Novocastrians RFC

13/09/2026

Good luck to our U16s today who are taking on Peterlee & Horden Rugby Club away!

12/09/2026

Big weekend this weekend at Sutherland park where Novos men’s 1s and 2s take on Selby at home for another preseason game!

11/09/2026

Selby Preview

Saturday sees Selby arrive at Sutherland Park for 1500 kick offs vs our 1st and 2nd XV sides....

Join us Saturday at Sutherland Park for thrilling rugby action as Selby faces our 1st and 2nd XV teams. Don't miss the player debuts!

10/09/2026

PRE-MATCH MEAL – SAT 3rd OCTOBER

Our first pre-match meal is being served on Saturday 3rd October before the 1st XVs home fixture vs Durham City in Regional 2 North.

Something slightly different this year - please buy your tickets through the link below (or on the member app):

https://novocastriansrfc.bytable.net/menu/Events

1899 members who want to redeem their pre-match hospitality voucher please contact me and I'll provide you with the discount code to apply at checkout.

Vegetarian & SDRs can be catered for - again please contact me to advise

Cheers

Big Nick

[email protected]

https://novos.co.uk/2026/09/10/pre-match-meal-sat-3rd-october/

07/09/2026

Ilkeston Review

Our opponents arrived and looked ready to go - immaculate kit, organised warm up and more tattoos than us....

Our opponents arrived and looked ready to go – immaculate kit, organised warm up and more tattoos than us. We on the other hand were running late despite being the home side. However, at some…

02/09/2026

Respect for the Referee

At Novos we expect that all of our players, coaches, members and supporters to respect the referee in line with Rugby’s values.

We know that most people at the Club display the behaviour we would hope for the vast majority of the time. However, we also know that sometimes in the heat of the moment, we can let ourselves down. Myself included. We aren’t looking for a council of perfection, however we are asking everyone associated with the Club to remind themselves of the standards we hope to uphold.

It might be that actions or comments you don’t consider to amount to match official abuse can add up when repeated, done at volume or when it comes from multiple sources. Referees are critical to our game, we could not have the fun we have on the pitch without their involvement. They should not just be free from abuse, but also should be treated with the upmost respect.

At Novos we will have a zero-tolerance approach to Match Official Abuse. Please ensure that you uphold the games traditional values, and if you hear a friend, teammate, coach, volunteer or spectator step out of line, feel empowered to have a word with them about it.

Let us ensure that at Novos, we have a welcoming and respectful attitude to match officials.

Tom Dias

Club Secretary and Disciplinary Officer

30/08/2026

Club Six Nations tickets now available 🏉

28/08/2026

Novocastrians RFC Online Shop

We have just unveiled four new lines of the on-line shop:

Canterbury Mini and Youths Replica shirts

Canterbury Retro Rugby Shirts (long and short sleeve)

Canterbury Quarter Zip Microfleece

These are striking items and all made to order.

As made to order items they will be available to order for a short time only – from now until 17:00 on 21st September.

Production is bespoke and we are advised that delivery will occur in 6-8 weeks for the Replica shirts and upto 10 weeks for Retro shirts/Microfleece from order acceptance.

They could be a great Christmas present – but please order soon.

Online Shop:

https://www.border-embroideries.co.uk/collections/novocastrians-rfc or via the Kit Shop tab on the Novocastrians RFC website.

Reminder: Sunday 20th September - Try sample merchandise 10:30 -12:30 - upstairs in the clubhouse.

https://novos.co.uk/2026/08/28/novocastrians-rfc-online-shop/

28/08/2026

Men's Preview 29th August - DMP away

Match 1 - DMP - kick off at 1300, 40 min match

Match 2 - Bishop Auckland - kick off at 1400, 40 min match

Meet at Vos 1045 for lifts, 1200 if going direct.

Brandon Gilbert has the honour of captaining our first squad of the season, under the watchful eye of Rob Ogilvie. It is a squad fully representing Novos DNA with a couple of regular 1's players playing who are unavailable on the 5th Sept vs Ilkeston. However, the bulk of the squad is made up of a perfect blend of 2's and 3's.

The front row see regular first team tighthead David Medjigbodo-Lawson move across to the loosehead. This allows a club debut for Thomas Young at tighthead - a young lad coming into the area for uni who will be huge for us with the ability to play all three positions in the front row. In between them is Zac Chatterjee who we hope manages to play a bit more rugby for us alongside his American Football.

The boiler room sees Owen Hayton back down alongside new man Ayrton Patterson. A well balanced duo with Hayton a ball player wanting to push his way into a starting spot for the ones. Whist Patterson is making his club debut - a big powerful lad, again a uni lad looking to play some club rugby.

The pack is completed with captain Brandon Gilbert, regular third teamer Louis Oliver and relative new comer in Will Alexander. Gilbert has looked in good form at pre season and will want to lead by his actions. Oliver himself has shown some leadership qualities in his third team appearances last season, via his work ethic. Alexander has been ever present at training, putting together impressive showings in our sessions.

We hope the pack secures possession and creates quick ball for the mercurial pairing of first team regular 9 Rhys Merlane, Another one playing on Saturday as he is unavailble the following week against Ilkeston. He is partnered with Patrick Magil - a wild card capable of pieces of magic which were displayed during the Tynedale 7's.

Very excited to see the centre partnership on Saturday with Gavin Wilson returning to the club. A big ball carrying centre will get his team across the gain line. More go forward will be provided with the club debut of Matt Tucker. He returns to the game after a long term break due to injury. The playing group are excited to see him be let loose in the midfield with some rampaging runs.

Two youngsters on their outside with Takreem Faheem getting some rugby before heading back to Loughborough. On the right wing is Sam Brooks who is in his second year of adult rugby. A great debut season last year which saw him filter through into some first team rugby and tries. Out the back is Adam Lambert who will be looking to get a first team shirt on in the coming weeks.

Plenty of ability on the bench or available to start the second game with Alfie Bowman, Christian Selkirk and Ewan Dryden regular 2's players. Great to see a load of regular 3's in action - Sean Hamill, Ethan Carmichael, Stewart Wilson, Ross Cleminson. Club debuts for Harry Brown, Joe Hantmann and the return of Ethan Morton to the club.

Should be a great playing opportuity for the lads before we try put three teams out on the 5th September.

Up the Vos

https://novos.co.uk/2026/08/28/mens-preview-29th-august-dmp-away/

07/08/2026

Novos Kit & Club Merchandise Announcement

Ahead of the start of the new season, we are proud to unveil the new partnership for kit and merchandise with Canterbury of New Zealand.

The playing shirts will stay true to our charismatic red, white and black hoops.

Replica kit and the full ‘Novos’ Canterbury range will be available through the new online Novocastrians RFC Club Shop – due to launch w/c 10 Aug 2026

We have ‘touch and try sessions’ next week when you can take a look at the new offer. Many samples will be available to touch and try on – to ensure you can order just what you are looking for on the online Club Shop – with delivery direct to your home. For most of the range delivery is advised as three weeks lead time.

So save the dates in your diary –
Tues 11th & Thurs 13th August – Try sample merchandise 18:00-21:00
Upstairs in the clubhouse

W/c 10th August Online Novocastrians Club Shop opens
Watch our socials for the link

Please note socks will continue to be available for sale at the bar only.