Go North East named official transport partner for Newcastle Falcons as rugby fever hits region

Rugby fans across the North East and beyond can catch a glimpse of the revered Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup from this week, thanks to Go North East.

The award-winning bus operator has been named transport partner for the Newcastle Falcons, ahead of the highly anticipated 2019 European Club Rugby Finals being hosted in the city in May.

A special Go North East branded minibus will embark on a three-week, 50-event Newcastle 2019 Trophies Tour, taking the prized silverware to rugby clubs, schools, businesses and public events across the region.

The vehicle will transport the two trophies, staff, volunteers and the Falcon’s official mascot – Stephen the Seahorse – to events between Friday 22 March and 14 April 2019.

Journeying from Middlesbrough to Newcastle, up to Berwick and the Scottish Borders, the Tour will give fans the opportunity to have photographs taken with the trophies - and be in with a chance to win tickets to the finals.

In total the silverware will visit 12 schools, 11 rugby clubs, 11 community/public events, five businesses and major sporting fixtures at Newcastle United FC, Middlesbrough FC, Newcastle Eagles basketball, Newcastle Falcons and the Melrose Sevens.

Mick Hogan, event director for the European Club Rugby Finals, said: “We’d like to thank Go North East for their magnificent support of the Tour. By taking the trophies out across the region they will help us engage with an anticipated 25,000 people and build the excitement for the what promises to be the greatest weekend in rugby.”

As the official transport partner, Go North East will also be carrying officials and sponsors during the finals weekend on 10 and 11 May.

Mark Ellis, Go North East's Business Development Manager, said: “The Tour is an excellent opportunity for Go North East to join rugby fans across the region and beyond, in celebrating a hugely exciting event. Our vision is ‘journeys taken care of’ and we’ll certainly be taking good care of our precious Cup cargo.

“The finals at St James’ Park are expected to be a big draw and Go North East is proud to support the region’s thriving leisure and tourism industry.”

Competition

To celebrate our participation in the Trophies Tour, we've got four Heineken Champions Cup Final tickets to give away, as well as four European Rugby Challenge Cup Final tickets.

• All you have to do enter is upload your photo(s) of the trophies and/or bus on the tour and submit your details using the below link.
• Enter our Rugby Competition

Trophies Tour Schedule

• Fri 22 March: Official Trophies Tour Opening Event (Newcastle Civic Centre) - Bus and Trophies
• Sat 23 March: The Big One – Falcons v Sale Sharks (St James’ Park) - Trophies only
• Sun 24 March: Rugby club event (Blaydon RFC), Community event (Summerhill Bowling Club, Newcastle) - Bus and Trophies
• Mon 25 March: School visit (Yarm Prep School, Teesside), Charity visit (Sporting Force, Darlington), Armed Services (RAF Boulmer, Northumberland) - Trophies only
• Tues 26 March: School visit (Highfield Primary, Rowlands Gill), School visit (Thorp Academy, Ryton), Rugby club event (Ryton RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Wed 27 March: Rugby club event (Consett RFC), Durham County Schools 7s (Ryton RFC), Rugby club event (Houghton RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Thurs 28 March: School visit (NSB School, Newcastle), Tyne & Wear School Games (Beacon of Light, Sunderland), Rugby club visit (Barnard Castle Rugby Club) - Trophies only
• Fri 29 March: School visit (Barnard Castle School), Northumberland Schools 7s (Dame Allan’s School, Newcastle) - Trophies only
• Sat 30 March: Middlesbrough FC v Norwich City (Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough) - Bus and Trophies
• Sun 31 March: Rugby club event (Horden & Peterlee RFC), Public event (Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham) - Bus and Trophies
• Mon 1 April: School visit (Jarrow School, South Tyneside), Sedgefield School Sports Partnership (Coxhoe Primary School), Project Rugby Festival (Darlington RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Tues 2 April: School visit (St Joseph’s Middle, Hexham), School visit (Queen Elizabeth High, Hexham), Rugby club event (Carlisle RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Wed 3 April: Newcastle Rugby Foundation (Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle) - Trophies only
• Thurs 4 April: School visit (Shilbottle School, Northumberland), School visit (St Mary’s CE School, Berwick), Rugby club event (Berwick RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Fri 5 April: School visit (Tudhoe Colliery School, Spennymoor), School visit (Academy 360, Sunderland), Newcastle Eagles Basketball v Manchester Giants (Eagles Community Arena, Newcastle) - Bus and Trophies
• Sat 6 April: Public event (Discovery Museum, Newcastle), Newcastle United v Crystal Palace (St James’ Park, Newcastle) - Trophies only
• Sun 7 April: Rugby club event (Gateshead RFC), Public event (Hotel du Vin, Newcastle) - Bus and Trophies
• Mon 8 April: Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue (Headquarters, Sunderland) - Bus and Trophies
• Tues 9 April: Business event (Brewin Dolphin, Newcastle), Rugby club event (South Shields RFC) - Bus and Trophies
• Wed 10 April: Business event (Quorum Business Park, Newcastle), Business event (Greggs HQ, Newcastle) - Bus and Trophies
• Thurs 11 April: Business event (North East Chamber of Commerce), Business event (Ward Hadaway Law, Newcastle) - Trophies only
• Fri 12 April: Public event (Grainger Market, Newcastle), Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers (Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle) - Bus and Trophies
• Sat 13 April: Melrose 7s Tournament (Melrose RFC, Scottish Borders) - Trophies only
• Sun 14 April: Rugby club event (Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC), Rugby club event (Percy Park RFC) - Bus and Trophies