Darlington Mowden Park Durham Sharks‘ (DMP Sharks) Crowdfunder has passed 50% of its target, as their bid to stay in the Allianz Premier 15s continues.
The Sharks, who have existed as a club since 1996 and played in the Premier 15s since its inception, set up the “Keep Elite Women’s Rugby in the North East” Crowdfunder last week after it was revealed they had a £50,000 shortfall in funding to continue participating in the competition.
In an open letter on Tuesday, the club revealed it had been given more time to raise the funds necessary to continue competing at the top level, as they thanked fans for the support provided so far.
“The level of support for keeping elite women’s rugby alive in the North East has been truly extraordinary,” it read.
“We would like to express our gratitude for all of your generosity so far, we are so close!”
As of this article being released, the petition has £26,270.
As recently as 2016, more than half the clubs competing in the then Women’s Premiership were not affiliated to Men’s Premiership Rugby clubs and the enormous financial power they provide, but the Sharks are now one of only two clubs who are not affiliated.
Their bottom-placed finish in 2020/21 was the first time they had finished outside the top eight since their initial promotion to the top tier in 2008, but last season was even worse as they finished in the same position, but this time failing to win a single game.
A partnership with Durham University in 2020 was set to provide a welcome boost, but with the first lockdown coming less than two weeks after it was confirmed, the Sharks have yet to see the full benefits of that relatively new relationship.
With Durham Uni’s Women’s Rugby Club having won the BUCS WNL Championship in 2021/22, it seems the Sharks’ ascent up the table is an inevitability if they are able to survive as a club, with Loughborough Lightning (the only other team not affiliated to a Men’s Premiership club playing in the Premier 15s) having so benefitted from their own university link.
But the potential that brings, and the potential of playing rugby in the Northern Echo Arena – which at 25,500 has the highest capacity of any Premier 15s ground – will be lost if efforts to raise the necessary funds not come to fruition.
You can donate to DMP Durham Sharks Crowdfunder here
