Programme for the RGS joint rugby, hockey and netball tour to Australia, 2011. RGS Archives
Netball
Netball is a relatively new addition to the RGS timetable, first introduced when girls joined the school following our transition to co-education in 2001.
Before this, there was a history of RGS boys playing annual netball and hockey matches against girls from Central and Church High Schools, the first recorded match taking place in 1963. However, netball was not formally part of the regular sporting timetable until 2001.
The first girls at RGS started in the Sixth Form, and those who decided to join the fledgling netball team were taken under the wing of Chemistry teacher Dr Jacquie Burke (RGS 2001-c.04). The Chemistry department were evidently early champions of netball at RGS, as two other Chemistry teachers coached the team: Jane Crudass (RGS 2004-06) and Jacquie Robson (RGS 2001-06).
Photograph of the RGS Netball Team, 2002-03. From the 2003 Yearbook. RGS Archives
The first-ever Netball Report was published in the Summer 2004 of The Novo magazine, covering the 2003-04 season. It included match reports for the netball A and B teams against local schools such as Westfield, Central High, Church High, Dame Allan’s and Gosforth High, as well as an away match to Sedbergh School.
There were strong netball players among the first few years of girls at RGS. We finished second in the Newcastle City League in 2004, impressive as it was only our second year entering the competition. Netball also became part of the RGS inter-house sports competition, with Horsley House lifting the netball trophy in both 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, RGS became Newcastle City Netball champions. This was the first year that a netball player was awarded school ‘colours’ - full colours were given to team captain Kathryn Ellis (RGS 2003-05). More teams were added as girls gradually joined RGS across the Senior and Junior Schools. By 2008, RGS was fully co-educational. In 2006, we fielded a third team for the first time and had the first joint international tour with the Hockey Club, visiting Sri Lanka, Singapore and Australia. In 2008 the U13 netball team won the Tyne & Wear Schools tournament.
In 2010, the RGS U19 made school history by reaching the Netball National Final. During the 2011-12 season, RGS fielded 10 netball teams, which played over 100 matches and participated in more than 20 tournaments. The 2011-12 Review summarised the season:
What was so great about the whole season was having so many enthusiastic and talented girls who all regularly trained. As a result of their hard work we will have two teams in the trophy league next year and we will also have more fixtures planned against top opposition. Well done on a fantastic season!
RGS Review, 2011-12, Netball Report, p.58
Netball remains a popular sport across the school, 24 years since it started!
Photograph of three netball players, c.2019. ©RGS Newcastle