Blaydon RFC

Blaydon

Full name	Blaydon Rugby Football Club
Union	Durham County RFU
Founded	1888 (1888)
Location	Swalwell, Tyne and Wear, England
Ground(s)	Crow Trees (Capacity: 2,000 (400 seated))
Chairman	Chris Nunn (C.O.R.)
Coach(es)	Keith Laughlin (Head Coach), Jason Smithson, Sam Stuart, Jim Houghton, Lee Hogarth
League(s)	National League 2 North
2021–22	14th
Team kit
Official website
www.blaydonrfc.co.uk

Blaydon RFC is an English semi-professional rugby union team. The first team currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system (National League 2 North), having been promoted as champions from North Premier at the end of the 2019–20 season. Their home ground is at Crow Trees, Swalwell, Tyne and Wear.

First team

The Blaydon first team are presently the joint third highest placed league team in the North East (behind Premiership side, Newcastle Falcons, National League 1 club Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. and alongside National League 2 North Tynedale RFC). Due to Blaydon's close proximity to the Falcons, many of the Falcon's academy players are given playing experience at Blaydon.

Youth rugby

Blaydon run various youth teams, ranging from under-7 to under-19.

Best results

• Under-19 (2008): National semi-final [v Harrogate, 16 March, Crow Trees]
• Under-17 (2009–10): National Plate semi-final [v Sheffield, 23 March, Crow Trees]
• Under-17 (2013–14): National Shield winners (v Dartfordians, 4 May, AJ Bell Stadium)

Honours

• Durham Senior Cup winners (5): 1996, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013
• North East 1 champions: 1994–95
• North 1 v Midlands 1 promotion play-off winner: 2000–01
• National League 3 North champions: 2006–07
• North Premier champions: 2019−20

International players

• Mark Wilson (rugby union)
• Michael Skinner (rugby union)
• Steve Bainbridge
• Trevor Davison (rugby union)
• Selwyn St. Bernard
• Matthew Cook

Notable former players

• Andrew Baggett – fly-half who became the all-time National League 1 points scorer with over 1,700 points, the majority whilst playing for Blaydon. He also represented Yorkshire and Durham and was part of the Yorkshire side that won the 2008 Bill Beamont Cup.