Sports & Leisure

Northern Rugby Football Club

Historic rugby club founded in 1875. Senior men's and women's teams, thriving junior section, and excellent clubhouse facilities.

McCracken Park, Great North Road, NE3 2DT 0191 236 3069 Visit website

Match days and training evenings — see website for schedule

About Northern Rugby Football Club

Northern RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in England, founded in 1875 and based at the beautiful McCracken Park ground on the Great North Road. The club fields senior men's and women's teams competing in national leagues, alongside a thriving junior section for ages 5-18 that welcomes new players throughout the season. The clubhouse is a social hub with a bar, function room available for hire, and regular social events. Match days have a fantastic atmosphere, and the club's annual open day is a highlight of the Gosforth sporting calendar. A genuine community institution.

rugbysports clubjuniors

View on Google Maps

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature Northern Rugby Football Club.

Things to Do in Gosforth: The Complete Guide

40+ things to do in Gosforth — nature reserves, the Town Moor, independent shops, live theatre, pubs, restaurants, and family days out. Updated 2026.

Rugby in Gosforth: Clubs & Junior Sections

From the historic Northern RFC at McCracken Park to the community-driven Gosforth RFC at Broadway West, here is your complete guide to playing and watching rugby in Gosforth.

Summer Events Preview 2026: The Best Events In and Around Gosforth

From Lewis Capaldi in Exhibition Park to outdoor cinema in Gosforth Central Park, here are the best events happening this summer across the North East.

15 Interesting Facts About Gosforth

From the meaning of its name to a 2,000-acre estate, a railway workers' village, and Europe's largest fair, here are 15 things you might not know about Gosforth.