Northumberland Senior Plate (rugby union)

The Northumberland Senior Plate is an annual rugby union competition held among the clubs of the Northumberland RFU. It was first played during the 2001–2002 season and serves as the second tier county cup for the Northumberland Rugby Union, which encompasses Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.

The plate was originally introduced in 2001-2002 for the first round losers in the Northumberland Senior Cup, as it became clear that some clubs would not reach the latter stages of the Cup. Since then, the competition has undergone various changes. From the mid-2000s until COVID-19 the competition was open to the 9th to 16th best-placed clubs in the league pyramid. From 2021 to 2025 the competition only allowed clubs from Level 7 and 8 as well as some 2nd XVs. Tynedale II became the first 2nd XV to win the competition in 2025. From the beginning of the 2025–26 season the competition reverted, partly, to its original conception. Losers in the Northumberland Senior Cup 1st Round dropped into the Senior Plate 1st Round along with Clubs placed 9th and below in the league pyramid.

The current holders are Novocastrians who defeated Percy Park 42-24, in the 2026 cup final. All Senior Plate Finals have been held at various venues in the county and takes place on Easter Saturday.

The Senior Plate is currently the second most important county cup competition for club sides based in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear typically competing at tier 7 (Durham/Northumberland 1), tier 8 (Durham/Northumberland 2) and tier 9 (Durham/Northumberland 3) of the English rugby union system. The format is a knock-out cup with a quarter-final, semi-final and final, which is played at a neutral ground in April.^[1]