South Shields RFC
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| Full name | South Shields Rugby Football Club Ltd |
|---|---|
| Union | Rugby Football Union |
| Nickname(s) | Shields / College / South Shields Massive |
| Founded | 1956 (61 years) |
| Location | South Shields, England |
| Ground(s) | Grosvenor Road |
| Chairman |
 Gary McKay |
| Coach(es) |
Ross Radford/David Bains |
| Captain(s) |
Jordan Wright |
| League(s) | Durham/Northumberland 3 |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
South Shields Rugby Football Club are an amateur rugby union team based in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. Established in 1956, they currently play in the Durham/Northumberland Three division.
Since their formation in 1956, South Shields have played their home games at South Tyneside College a ground known as Grosvenor Road in South Shields.
South Shields Rugby Football Club (Shields Rugby) was established in 1956. The club were previously known as South Tyneside College RUFC (STC RUGBY) and before that, South Shields Marine Technical College Rugby Union Football Club (SSMTC RUFC) and at this point had the longest rugby club name in the entire country.
When the club were created they took the name from the college of further education at which it has been based ever since. As SSMTC RUFC the rugby formed part of the offer made to students of the college, predominately for extra-curricular activities and was organised by staff from the college and linked to the activities of the Students' Association.
In 2005/06, under the stewardship of David Mackenzie, the club won its first league title in 10 years claiming the Durham & Northumberland Four division. In 2006/07, the club finished a disappointing 10th in its first season in Durham & Northumberland Three however went on to win the Durham County Plate two seasons running.
2010/11 saw South Shields RFC lose a close fought game to Newton Aycliffe in the Final of the Durham County Plate.
In 2012, after threat of going extinct, Shields Rugby was reformed and completely restructured under then club captain Chris Vacher, Team Manager Daniel McKay and the newly appointed Head Coach Tom Brooks. The club finished 4th in DN3 and were also beaten finalists in the Durham County Plate final losing 36 - 17 to Hartlepool BBOB. The club also regained the Bob Taylor Memorial Trophy from local rivals Jarrovians 34 - 7. The South Shields Mariners were defeated 48-0 by Blaydon Bricks, however fielded a competitive side throughout the season which led to the club being entered into a league for the first time in over a decade.
June 2013 saw Clayton Fox appointed as 1st XV club captain after Chris Vacher decided to step down and pass on the reigns. Stuart Robson was appointed as assistant coach; Tom Brooks also extended his stay as head coach.
In the summer of 2015, South Shields finally got its own rugby team as South Tyneside College RUFC became South Shields RFC with the name change being approved by the Durham County RFU and the RFU at Twickenham. The club had a new logo created by graphic designer Sam Monkhouse.
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Wikipedia