Newcastle Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was founded in 2000 as Gateshead Thunder, after the merger of the original Gateshead Thunder into Hull F.C. in 1999. The Thunder were based in Gateshead until 2014. In 2015, the club relocated and changed its name to Newcastle Thunder.
In 2024, the Newcastle Thunder made a return to Gateshead as their playing base. For 2025 they will play their home games at Crow Trees Ground in Swalwell, home of Blaydon RFC. The club currently competes in the Championship.
Contents
History
The club was formed by the Thunder 2000 working group, formed by supporters of the original Gateshead Thunder after that organisation made the decision to merge with Hull Sharks at the end of the 1999 season. The new club, like the former club, played their home games at Gateshead International Stadium, also the home ground of Gateshead F.C. The Thunder entered the Northern Ford Premiership for the 2001 season; however, they struggled to compete, and eventually finished 17th out of the 19 clubs.
Gateshead continued to struggle in the following season, finishing bottom of the league in 2002. When the Northern Ford Premiership was split into two divisions for the 2003 season the club joined National League Two, and again finished in the bottom two, being kept off the bottom only by new entrants London Skolars. The club's fortunes began to improve in 2005, a seventh-place finish being enough to gain a first ever place in the play-offs, before losing to Workington Town in their first ever play-off game. The club again finished seventh in 2006, but went on to lose 46–18 to Featherstone Rovers in the play-offs.
In 2008 the club won its first silverware, finishing the season as League 1 champions. As champions, the club were promoted to the Championship, and avoided on-field relegation by finishing seventh under coach Steve McCormack. Thunder's joy at securing a second season in the second tier was however short-lived, as the club was wound up following a dispute between the directors. A new company was formed to continue the club, however the club had to restart as a Championship 1 side, effectively being relegated for the 2010 season.
Gateshead Thunder were taken over by the owners of rugby union side Newcastle Falcons in 2015. The club was rebranded as Newcastle Thunder and applied for permission to use Kingston Park in Newcastle as their home ground.
Further silverware was earned in 2016, when Newcastle defeated North Wales Crusaders to win the League 1 Shield
On 10 December 2020, Thunder were promoted to the Championship by a committee to replace Leigh who were, in turn, promoted to Super League to replace Toronto Wolfpack, who went out of business. Newcastle began playing in the 2021 Championship season.
Players
Notable former players
(in alphabetical order)
Past coaches
Also see Category:Newcastle Thunder coaches
Records
Correct to September 2017
Player records
Most tries in a match: 5 by Andy Walker vs London Skolars 22 June 2003
Most points in a season: 246 by Chris Birch, 2005
Most career tries: 64 by Kevin Neighbour, 2001–2013
Most career goals: 137 by Paul Thorman, 2001–2004
Most career points: 365 by Paul Thorman, 2001–2004
Team records
Biggest win:
98-6 v. West Wales (at Kingston Park Stadium, 23 September 2018)
Biggest defeat:
132-0 v. Blackpool (at Memorial Stadium, 16 May 2010)
Attendance records
Highest all-time attendance:
6,631 v. Bradford (at Gateshead International Stadium, 16 May 1999)
Honours
RFL League 1:
Winners (1): 2008
RFL League 1:
Promotion(1): 2020
League 1 Shield:
Winners (1): 2016
Reserves
As of 2026, Newcastle entered a reserve team, Newcastle Lightening, into the Yorkshire Mens League, playing their games as double headers with the first team.