Durham County Rugby Football Union is based in the North East of England covering the old Durham County boundaries from the River Tyne in the North to the River Tees in the South.

Although the first recorded mention of Durham County playing was made in 1873, the Durham County Rugby Football Union was officially formed on the 10th October 1876 at a meeting at Walton's Hotel in Sunderland by the following clubs

The original Bensham Club, Darlington, Durham University, Houghton, Stockton, Sunderland and Westoe.

The first item of business on the agenda was to elect Durham School as a member of the Union. Incidently Durham School had been playing the game since 1850.

C Berkeley Cowell and E Watts Moses wrote a history of Durham County Rugby Union 1876 -1936 which was first published in September 1936.

The original printers and publishers Andrew Reid of Newcastle are no longer trading but after searching it was discovered that Elanders Hindson Ltd a multi-national company who still have a presence in North Tyneside are the publishing owners. After contacting the company I am delighted and grateful to say their representative gave consent to the book appearing on this website.