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Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies Rugby Football Club is a women's rugby union club in Darlington, County Durham, England founded in 1994 as Ripon Ladies RUFC.

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Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Full nameDarlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies Rugby Football Club
UnionDurham County Rugby Football Union
NicknameSharks
Founded
  • 1994 (1994)
    (as Ripon Ladies)
  • 2002 (2002)
    (as Thirsk Sharks)
  • 2006 (2006)
    (as Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
GroundThe Darlington Arena
Most triesLouisa Ramsey (42)
LeaguePremier 15s
2022–239th
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 199412 as Ripon Ladies RUFC.

They are the ladies team of Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. and played in the Allianz Premier 15s until 2023.3 They play their home games at The Darlington Arena.4

History

Ripon Ladies (1994-2002)

The club was founded in 199412 in Ripon as Ripon Ladies RUFC.56

After an impressive start after their entry into the Rugby Union league (including three promotions in four seasons), the team needed to look to change their training night to build their squad sufficiently to complete and to allow training to take place for those who played university matches or had regional training. A failure to resolve this issue saw a temporarily proposed resolution of playing at Thirsk, become permanent and the club left Ripon at the end of the 2001-2002 season.7

Alongside this the rise of the team had also created financial pressures, with the club initially being funded by fundraising. A kit sponsorship deal was announced in 2001, which saw the team put on a stronger financial footing.8

Thirsk Sharks (2002-2006)

The club moved to Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in 2002 where it was known as Thirsk Sharks RFC.9710

During this period the club were felt to be "the premier women's rugby team in the North" and during 2003 no less then eleven Thirsk players were called up to join England squads. One player joined the main England women's team, five players joined the academy squad and a further five were called up to join the Under-19s squad.11 Also in 2003 the team secured a major sponsorship deal with specialist vehicle manufacturer; Multidrive.12

By the following year, the team had launched a development squad13 and by 2005 the team particularly benefitted from a £12,000 grant for new floodlights at The Athletic Ground.14

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks (2006 Onwards)

The club then moved to Darlington in 200615 and became affiliated to Darlington Mowden Park and changed its name accordingly.16 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.17

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.18 In 2022 the club reverted to its previous name of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.19

In 2022, crowd-funding raised £50,000, which enabled the club to compete in the 2022/23 Allianz Premier 15s season.20 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".21 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.2223

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 Arena24 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,25 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.26 They started playing at The Darlington Arena in the 2013–14 season,27 alongside Darlington Mowden Park's men's team as well as their mini and junior teams.4

As Ripon Ladies, the team played at Mallorie Park, Ripon.8

As Thirsk Sharks, the team plated at The Athletic Ground, Thirsk.28

Notable players

 England internationals
 Ireland international
 Scotland internationals
 France international
  • Maelle Picut
 United States internationals

Source:3031

Season summaries

League
Season Competition Final position Points Play-offs
1998–99 Women's North Division 3 1st Promoted to Women's North Division 232
1999–00 Women's North Division 2 3rd 33
2000–01 Women's North Division 2 1st a Promoted to Women's North Division 134
2001–02 Women's North Division 18 1st 20 Promoted to Women's Premiership 235
2002–03 Women's Premiership 2 2nd 14 Promoted to Women's Premiership 136b
2003–04 Women's Premiership 1 6th 13 37
2004–05 Women's Premiership 1 7th 13 38
2005–06 Women's Premiership 1 8th 11 Relegated to Women's Premiership 239
2006–07 Women's Premiership 2 2nd 59 40
2007–08 Women's Championship 1 1st 61 41cd
2008–09 Women's Championship 1 1st 41 Promoted to Women's Premiership42
2009–10 Women's Premiership 3rd 35 43
2010–11 Women's Premiership 6th 28 44
2011–12 Women's Premiership 7th 26 45
2012–13 Women's Premiership 7th 10 46
2013–14 Women's Premiership 5th 31 47
2014–15 Women's Premiership 7th 23 48
2015–16 Women's Premiership 7th 10 49
2016–17 Women's Premiership 8th 12 50
2017–18 Tyrrells Premier 15s 8th 26 51
2018–19 Tyrrells Premier 15s 8th 18 52
2019–20 Tyrrells Premier 15s 6th 24 Season annulled53
2020–21 Allianz Premier 15s 10th 5 53
2021–22 Allianz Premier 15s 10th 0 53
2022–23 Allianz Premier 15s 9th 10 Not included in Premiership Women's Rugbye53
2023–24 Women's Championship North 1 - - Withdrew before start of season55

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

Notes

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 requirements54
References

References

  1. "Sponsorship Deal". Darlington & Stockton Times. 16 October 1998. p. 14.
  2. "New Strip is Simply the Best for Ripon Ladies". Darlington & Stockton Times. 12 March 1999. p. 28.
  3. "Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies". RFU. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  4. "Darlington Mowden Park buys town's 27,500 seater stadium (From The Northern Echo)". The Northern Echo. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  5. "Ripon Stars Close in on England Caps". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  6. "Lady Rugby Stars Seek Sponsors". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 6 July 2001. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  7. "Top Women's Team Moves to Thirsk". Northern Echo. Newsquest. 15 November 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  8. "Rugby Team Gets Family Cash Boost". The Northern Echo. 7 September 2001. p. 4.
  9. "Tamara Taylor". Sporting Champions. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  10. "Sharks Boosted by International Call-ups". Northern Echo. Newsquest. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  11. "Sharks Celebrate England Call-Ups". Darlington and Stockton Times. 28 November 2003. p. 18.
  12. "Double Celebration for Thirsk Sharks". Darlington and Stockton Times. 5 September 2003. p. 27.
  13. "Sharks Close the Gap on Saracens". Darlington and Stockton Times. 24 September 2004. p. 32.
  14. "Rugby Club Secures Grant for Floodlights". Darlington and Stockton Times. 4 November 2005. p. 3.
  15. "Sharks on the Move". Teesside Live. Reach plc. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  16. "Scrum mothers do have 'em". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 28 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. 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.
  18. Tom Bulmer (3 February 2021). "Sharks to play home games at Durham University". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  19. "DMP Sharks". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  20. Rachel Steinberg (12 August 2022). "DMP Durham Sharks successfully source funding needed to continue in Premier 15s". The Independent.
  21. Tom Bulmer (16 December 2022). "DMP Sharks Statement – Allianz Premier 15s". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  22. Tom Bulmer (9 June 2023). "Update - DMP Sharks League Application". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  23. Tom Bulmer (11 August 2023). "DMP Sharks Withdraw from Championship 1 North Season". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  24. "Location". Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  25. Bulger, Tyrone. "DMP Sharks". Rugby Journal (19).
  26. "The local rugby club playing in a 25,000-seat stadium". BBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  27. "Women's rugby Premiership preview". BT. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  28. "Cup Quarter-Final Place for Sharks". Darlington &Stockton Times. 29 November 2002. p. 28.
  29. "Away win is the next goal for Lisa Martin's Scotland". The Scotsman. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  30. "Trying time for rugby showdown friends". www.shieldsgazette.com. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  31. "Katy McLean to captain England Women against France". BBC. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  32. "Sponsorship Deal". Darlington and Stockton Times. 16 October 1998. p. 20.
  33. "Ripon Ladies Pick Up the Silverware". Darlington and Stockton Times. 5 May 2000. p. 26.
  34. "Women's Rugby Team are Paying the Price for Success". The Northern Echo. 7 July 2001. p. 3.
  35. "England - Women's Division 1 2001/2". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  36. "England - Women's Premiership 2 2002/3". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  37. "England - Women's Premiership 1 2003/4". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  38. "England - Women's Premiership 1 2004/5". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  39. "England - Women's Premiership 1 2005/6". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  40. "England - Women's Premiership 2 2006/7". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  41. "England - Women's Championship 1 2007/8". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  42. "England - Women's Championship 1 2008/9". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  43. "England - Women's Premiership 2009/10". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  44. "England - Women's Premiership 2010/11". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  45. "England - Women's Premiership 2011/12". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  46. "England - Women's Premiership 2012/13". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  47. "England - Women's Premiership 2013/14". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  48. "England - Women's Premiership 2014/15". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  49. "England - Women's Premiership 2015/16". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  50. "England - Women's Premiership 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  51. "Tyrrells Premier 15s League Stats - 2017-2018". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  52. "Tyrrells Premier 15s League Stats - 2017-2018". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  53. "PWR League Tables". The PWR. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  54. 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.
  55. Perkins, Bruce (12 August 2023). "The untimely Fate of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks". 4 The Love of Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2025.