Newcastle Thunder and Northumbria University Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Rugby League in the North East

Newcastle Thunder is proud to announce the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Northumbria University. This strategic collaboration aims to integrate academic expertise with professional sport, fostering a new era of talent development, student experience, and community engagement across the region.

As the top-performing Rugby League University in the country, Northumbria University is a vital stakeholder in the sport across the North East. The MOU focuses on five key objectives: Education and Talent Pathways, Experiential Learning for Students, Commercial and Branding Opportunities, Community Engagement, and Facility Development.

Richie Metcalfe, CEO of Newcastle Thunder, commented:
"We're incredibly proud to be working alongside Northumbria University to grow the profile of Rugby League in the North East. On a personal note, it is special to be collaborating with my former teammate, Jason Payne (Head of Rugby League at Northumbria University) and to reunite with a shared vision for the sport we love. Northumbria University's track record in Rugby League is unparrlelled; players such as Sam Luckley, Alex Donaghy, Neil Thorman and Sean Croston, to name but a few, have all graduated through the University and gone on to enjoy successful careers in the sport. We want to work together to continue this trend across all facets of the club, including in roles off the field."

Newcastle Thunder and Northumbria University have outlined ambitious plans to grow the game inclusively over the term of the agreement. The club plans to work closely with the University to launch a dedicated Newcastle Thunder Women’s team in 2027. Following this, the organisations aim to work together to launch a Centre of Excellence in 2028 catering to both men’s and women’s Rugby League.

Under the new agreement, Northumbria University students will gain access to hands-on placements, internships, and research projects within the professional sports environment at Thunder. The collaboration will also see the two organisations exploring the shared use of training facilities and athlete support services to drive high-performance standards.

Richie Metcalfe extended his gratitude to the key figures who made this agreement possible:
"I want to give special thanks to Daryl Dixon, Head of Sport, and Tom Robinson, Sport Scholarship Manager at Northumbria University. Their help in formulating this MOU and building the foundation of this partnership has been invaluable. I am looking forward to working with them to shape the future of Rugby League in our region."