1873 - 1892 - Durham County, from its start to the Zenith for North Rugby

Although dating officially from 1876, the Durham County Rugby Union, like many of its Clubs, has a pre-history stretching back to at least 1873.  That year a group of enthusiasts in the County received an invite from Yorkshire RFU (formed in 1870) suggesting “you give us contest at Rugby” After a champagne luncheon the invite was accepted, and Durham played Yorkshire in Leeds.

This gallery has a selection of images concerning the clashes between Durham County & the Counties in the Northern Championship, leading to 1892 which year can be seen as the Zenith for Rugby Union popularity in the North. The years following this period brought on the spilt with the Rugby League and the rise in popularity for Association Football. 

The Yorkshire, Lancs and Cheshire Unions were then at the peak of their powers but 1892 was a fateful year for their clubs, and were on the cusp of a disastrous split with the R.F.U. over broken time payments.

It is easy to look back at the past with a rosy hue, these images show that even in the great eras, travel chaos, disappointing results, new law changes and violence (on and off the field) were not uncommon.

Gallery images

• 1874 - Durham County v Yorkshire
• 1883 - Outstanding Players - Arthur W Hill
• 1884 - Durham County v Yorkshire
• 1887 - Durham County Trial Match
• 1887 - Durham County Trial Match (2)
• 1887 - Durham County v Middlesex -Proto Champion County.
• 1887 - Durham County v Yorkshire
• 1888 - Durham County v Yorkshire - Cheap Train Excusions!
• 1890 - Durham County v Lancashire
• 1890 - Durham County v Northumberland
• 1892 - Durham County v Cheshire
• 1892 - Durham County v Northumberland
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire - The Match poster
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 1
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 2
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 3
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 4
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 5
• 1892 - Durham County v Yorkshire 6
• 1893 - Durham County v Yorkshire