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Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies Rugby Football Club (commonly shortened to DMP Sharks, also known briefly as DMP Durham Sharks for partnership purposes) is a women's rugby union club in Darlington, County Durham, England founded in 1996. Their top try scorer (42 tries in 68 appearances) Louisa Ramsey became the first player to score over 10 tries for Scotland. They are the ladies team of Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. and played in the Allianz Premier 15s until 2023. They also play their home games at The Darlington Arena.

History

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks were founded in 1996 in Ripon. The club later moved to Thirsk, North Yorkshire where it was known as Thirsk RFC. The club then moved to Darlington in 2006 and became affiliated to Darlington Mowden Park and changed its name accordingly. 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.

Darlingon Mowden Park Sharks Ladies used to play their home matches at Yiewsley Drive. In 2012, 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. Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies play their home games at The Darlington Arena alongside Darlington Mowden Park's men's team as well as their mini and junior teams. They started playing at The Darlington Arena in the 2013–14 season. 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. In 2022, crowd-funding raised £50,000, which enabled the club to compete in the 2022/23 Allianz Premier 15s season. 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". The club was accepted into the 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.

Notable players

 England internationals

 Ireland international

• Sophie Spence
• Jo Brown

 Scotland international

• Lisa Martin
• Caity Mattinson
• Louisa Ramsey
• Lisa Cockburn
• Lisa Thomson
• Sarah Law
• Lana Skeldon
• Liz Musgrove
• Rachel McLachlan
• Evie Tonkin
• Abi Evans (15s and 7s)
• Beth Blacklock
• Elis Martin
• Lucy Winter

 France international

• Maelle Picut

 United States international

• Kathryn Treder
• Rachel Ehrecke
• Olivia Ortiz
• Meya Bizer
• Tess Feury

Source:

References

1. ^ "Scrum mothers do have 'em". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
2. "Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Ladies". RFU. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
3. ^ "Darlington Mowden Park buys town's 27,500 seater stadium (From The Northern Echo)". The Northern Echo. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
4. "Tamara Taylor". Sporting Champions. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
5. 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.
6. "The local rugby club playing in a 25,000-seat stadium". BBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
7. "Women's rugby Premiership preview". BT. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
8. Tom Bulmer (3 February 2021). "Sharks to play home games at Durham University". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
9. Rachel Steinberg (12 August 2022). "DMP Durham Sharks successfully source funding needed to continue in Premier 15s". The Independent.
10. Tom Bulmer (16 December 2022). "DMP Sharks Statement – Allianz Premier 15s". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
11. Tom Bulmer (9 June 2023). "Update - DMP Sharks League Application". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
12. Tom Bulmer (11 August 2023). "DMP Sharks Withdraw from Championship 1 North Season". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
13. "Away win is the next goal for Lisa Martin's Scotland". The Scotsman. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
14. "Trying time for rugby showdown friends". www.shieldsgazette.com. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
15. "Katy McLean to captain England Women against France". BBC. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.

• Women's rugby union teams in England
• Rugby clubs established in 1996
• 1996 establishments in England
• Darlington
• Rugby union in County Durham
• Ripon
• Thirsk
• Rugby union in Yorkshire
• Sport in the Borough of Darlington
• Premiership Women's Rugby teams