Northumberland Rugby Football Union

Northumberland Rugby Union

Crest of Northumberland Rugby Union
Sport	Rugby union
Founded	1880
President	Malcom Jarvie
Men's coach	James Ponton
Website	NRU website

The Northumberland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the county of Northumberland, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1880. In addition, the county has won the county championship on two occasions, and finished runners-up on a further five occasions.

The Union was founded in 1880 by six club sides. The six founding members were The Northumberland Football Club (defunct), The (original) Borough of Tynemouth Football Club (defunct), The Northern Football Club, The (original) Gosforth Football Club, The Tynedale Football Club and The Percy Park Football Club.

Northumberland were one of the very few counties to own their own ground. In 1932 they built the Northumberland County Ground. Many international fixtures were played there; all County Finals were played at the ground until it was demolished in 1988.

The NRU also organises the Northumberland Senior Cup, a men's rugby competition for club sides based in Northumberland which was inaugurated in 1882. The competition is currently open for the top club sides that reside in the county - typically from tier 4 and below of the English rugby union league system. Since 2002 the Northumberland Senior Plate was introduced for lower ranked club sides in the county.