NEWCASTLE LIGHTNING LAUNCHES TO STRENGTHEN NORTH EAST RUGBY LEAGUE PATHWAY

Newcastle Thunder and Newcastle Lightning can today confirm the RFL's decision to accept Newcastle Lightning into the Yorkshire Men's League Premier Division for the 2026 season.

The newly formed club has been established to provide a vital link between community rugby league and the professional game in the North East.

Born out of a partnership between Newcastle Thunder and Northumbria University, the club aims to offer regular, competitive rugby for players who are graduating through existing NERL youth club systems and the Northumbria University pathway to push for competitive rugby and professional opportunities.

Lightning will adopt a training pattern and playing philosophy aligned with Newcastle Thunder, enabling smooth transition of playing talent amongst the pathway.

The team will be based at Northumbria University’s Coach Lane Campus, giving the squad access to high-quality training and playing facilities while keeping the club rooted in the local community.

Will Bate of Newcastle Lightning, said:
"The main goal here is simple, we want to keep lads playing rugby league in the North East."

"We know there’s a drop-off point where players leave the sport because the jump to professional level is too big, or there aren't enough competitive fixtures locally. By entering the Yorkshire competition, we can offer a good standard of rugby week in, week out. It’s a new challenge, but one we’re really looking forward to."

"We hope this will be the catalyst needed to reignite the open age Men's scene in NERL, if we can build a critical mass of players who are competing with Lightning we can foresee a time when the NERL competition can resume".

Richie Metcalfe, CEO of Newcastle Thunder, commented on the importance of the project:
"For the game to be sustainable in this region, we need a structure that makes sense. Newcastle Lightning fills a gap that has existed for a while."

"This isn't just about Thunder; it’s about the wider health of the sport in the North East. Having a team competing in the Yorkshire leagues gives local players a target to aim for and strengthens the connection between our community clubs, the university, and the professional setup."

From a performance perspective, the move is designed to ensure players are match-ready and gaining experience against hardened opposition in the Yorkshire heartlands and create alignment across the player pathway. 

Newcastle Thunder Head Coach, Graham Steadman, added:
"You can do all the training in the world, but young players need game time to develop. They need to be testing themselves against men, taking hits, and learning game management in real situations.

"Lightning gives us a platform to see how players handle that step up. It will create alignment across the playing performance pathway in the North East from the amateur game to the professional game with Newcastle Thunder. I’ll be watching their results closely."

Newcastle Lightning will play in the same colours as Thunder, showcasing the alignment of the clubs across the pathway. Where schedules allow, the club plans to play curtain-raiser fixtures ahead of Thunder home games, bringing a full day of rugby league to the fans.