Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

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Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Full nameDarlington Mowden Park Sharks
Union Durham County Rugby Football Union
NicknameSharks
Founded
  • 1996;29 years ago (1996)
    (as Ripon Ladies)
  • 2002;23 years ago (2002)
    (as Thirsk Sharks)
  • 2006;19 years ago (2006)
    (as Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Ground The Darlington Arena
Most triesLouisa Ramsey (42)
League Premier 15s
2022–23 9th
Official website
www.mowdenpark.com/teams/196169

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies Rugby Football Club (commonly shortened to DMP Sharks) is a women's rugby union club in Darlington, County Durham, England founded in 1996 as Ripon Ladies RUFC.

Contents

They are the ladies team of Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. and played in the Allianz Premier 15s until 2023. [1] They play their home games at The Darlington Arena. [2]

History

Ripon Ladies (1996-2002)

The club was founded in 1996 in Ripon as Ripon Ladies RUFC. [3] [4]

Thirsk Sharks (2002-2006)

The club moved to Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in 2002 where it was known as Thirsk Sharks RFC. [5] [6] [7]

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks (2006 Onwards)

The club then moved to Darlington in 2006 [8] and became affiliated to Darlington Mowden Park and changed its name accordingly. [9] In 2009, Darlington Mowden Park Sharks were promoted from Championship 1 North to the Women's Premiership after finishing top of the table. They then defeated Championship 1 South team, Bath Rugby Ladies in extra time in the playoffs in order to be promoted. [10]

In 2020, as part of the league re-tender process and formal agreements were confirmed, they changed their name to Darlington Mowden Park Durham Sharks to reflect their enhanced partnership with Durham University, and also played their home games for the latter part of the 2020/21 Allianz Premier 15s season (from February 2021) at Durham's Maiden Castle ground. [11] Between 2020 and 2022 the club was known as DMP Durham Sharks for partnership purposes. [12]

In 2022, crowd-funding raised £50,000, which enabled the club to compete in the 2022/23 Allianz Premier 15s season. [13] The 2022/23 season was the club's last in the Allianz Premier 15s, with the club deciding not to bid for membership in the 2023/24 season as it was felt that "the significant financial commitment required was unsustainable in both the short and long term, particularly for a community rugby club". [14] The club was accepted into Championship North for the 2023/24 season but withdrew in August 2023 due to a lack of players, with the stated intention of re-entering the league system in the 2024/25 season. [15] [16]

Stadium

Darlingon Mowden Park Sharks play at The Darlington Arena, a 25,000-seat stadium in the town. The stadium is now called the Northern Echo Arena [17] due to a sponsorship deal with the Northern Echo news and media company.

Prior to 2012, Darlingon Mowden Park Sharks used to play their home matches at Yiewsley Drive, [18] until Darlington Mowden Park purchased The Darlington Arena after its previous tenants, association football club Darlington F.C., went out of business and its phoenix club, Darlington 1883 F.C. decided to play its home games outside Darlington. [19] They started playing at The Darlington Arena in the 2013–14 season, [20] alongside Darlington Mowden Park's men's team as well as their mini and junior teams. [2]

Notable players

Flag of England.svg  England internationals
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland international
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland internationals
Flag of France.svg  France international
Flag of the United States.svg  United States internationals

Source: [22] [23]

Season summaries

League
SeasonCompetitionFinal positionPointsPlay-offs
1998–99Women's North Division 31stPromoted to Women's North Division 2 [24]
1999–00Women's North Division 23rd [25]
2000–01Women's North Division 21st [a] Promoted to Women's North Division 1 [26]
2001–02Women's North Division 1 [27] 1st20Promoted to Women's Premiership 2 [28]
2002–03Women's Premiership 22nd14Promoted to Women's Premiership 1 [29] [b]
2003–04 Women's Premiership 1 6th13 [30]
2004–05 Women's Premiership 1 7th13 [31]
2005–06 Women's Premiership 1 8th11Relegated to Women's Premiership 2 [32]
2006–07Women's Premiership 22nd59 [33]
2007–08Women's Championship 11st61 [34] [c] [d]
2008–09Women's Championship 11st41Promoted to Women's Premiership [35]
2009–10 Women's Premiership 3rd35 [36]
2010–11 Women's Premiership 6th28 [37]
2011–12 Women's Premiership 7th26 [38]
2012–13 Women's Premiership 7th10 [39]
2013–14 Women's Premiership 5th31 [40]
2014–15 Women's Premiership 7th23 [41]
2015–16 Women's Premiership 7th10 [42]
2016–17 Women's Premiership 8th12 [43]
2017–18 Tyrrells Premier 15s 8th26 [44]
2018–19 Tyrrells Premier 15s 8th18 [45]
2019–20 Tyrrells Premier 15s 6th24Season annulled [46]
2020–21 Allianz Premier 15s 10th5 [46]
2021–22 Allianz Premier 15s 10th0 [46]
2022–23 Allianz Premier 15s 9th10Not included in Premiership Women's Rugby [e] [46]
2023–24Women's Championship North 1--Withdrew before start of season [48]

Gold background denotes champions
Silver background denotes runners-up
Pink background denotes relegated

Notes

  1. ↑ Ripon were unbeaten in this campaign
  2. ↑ Ripon was promoted as the winners; Wasps II, being a second team, could not be promoted
  3. ↑ Women's Premiership 2 rebranded as Women's Championship 1 for 2007–08 season
  4. ↑ No promotion to Women's Premiership in this season
  5. ↑ DMP Sharks did not apply for inclusion in The PWR due to financial investment requirements [47]

References

  1. ↑ "Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies". RFU. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Darlington Mowden Park buys town's 27,500 seater stadium (From The Northern Echo)". The Northern Echo. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ripon Stars Close in on England Caps". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Lady Rugby Stars Seek Sponsors". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 6 July 2001. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Tamara Taylor". Sporting Champions. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Top Women's Team Moves to Thirsk". Northern Echo. Newsquest. 15 November 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Sharks Boosted by International Call-ups". Northern Echo. Newsquest. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Sharks on the Move". Teesside Live. Reach plc. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Scrum mothers do have 'em". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  10. ↑ This is Bath (13 May 2009). "Bath Rugby Ladies lose 15-10 to Darlington Mowden Park Sharks in RFUW Premiership play-off". Bath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Tom Bulmer (3 February 2021). "Sharks to play home games at Durham University" . Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "DMP Sharks". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  13. ↑ Rachel Steinberg (12 August 2022). "DMP Durham Sharks successfully source funding needed to continue in Premier 15s". The Independent.
  14. ↑ Tom Bulmer (16 December 2022). "DMP Sharks Statement – Allianz Premier 15s". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Tom Bulmer (9 June 2023). "Update - DMP Sharks League Application". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Tom Bulmer (11 August 2023). "DMP Sharks Withdraw from Championship 1 North Season". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Location". Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Bulger, Tyrone. "DMP Sharks". Rugby Journal (19).
  19. ↑ "The local rugby club playing in a 25,000-seat stadium". BBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Women's rugby Premiership preview". BT. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Away win is the next goal for Lisa Martin's Scotland". The Scotsman . 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Trying time for rugby showdown friends". www.shieldsgazette.com. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Katy McLean to captain England Women against France". BBC. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "Sponsorship Deal". Darlington and Stockton Times. 16 October 1998. p. 20.
  25. ↑ "Ripon Ladies Pick Up the Silverware". Darlington and Stockton Times. 5 May 2000. p. 26.
  26. ↑ "Women's Rugby Team are Paying the Price for Success". The Northern Echo. 7 July 2001. p. 3.
  27. ↑ "Rugby Team Gets Family Cash Boost". The Northern Echo. 7 September 2001. p. 4.
  28. ↑ "England - Women's Division 1 2001/2". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2 2002/3". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 1 2003/4". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 1 2004/5". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 1 2005/6". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  33. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2 2006/7". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  34. ↑ "England - Women's Championship 1 2007/8". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  35. ↑ "England - Women's Championship 1 2008/9". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  36. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2009/10". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  37. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2010/11". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  38. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2011/12". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  39. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2012/13". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  40. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2013/14". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  41. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2014/15". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  42. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2015/16". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  43. ↑ "England - Women's Premiership 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  44. ↑ "Tyrrells Premier 15s League Stats - 2017-2018". Rugby Football Union . Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  45. ↑ "Tyrrells Premier 15s League Stats - 2017-2018". Rugby Football Union . Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  46. 1 2 3 4 "PWR League Tables". The PWR. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  47. ↑ Grey, Becky (16 December 2022). "Leicester and Ealing set to join women's Premier 15s as four clubs miss out". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  48. ↑ Perkins, Bruce (12 August 2023). "The untimely Fate of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks". 4 The Love of Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
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