This Saturday we welcome the players of Hull Ionians 1st XV and the Ionian Buccaneers, as well as the Hull officials and supporters. We have a long history of excellent matches against Ionian teams, and we look forward to two more exciting contests this weekend.
We also welcome our near neighbours from Ryton. Their Crusaders team play our Hadrians With Raiders, Crusaders and, Buccaneers playing today at Tynedale Park the Ionians are the only non-warlike sounding participants. We shall see on Saturday afternoon!

We also, of course, extend a warm welcome to this week’s match officials.

To EVERYBODY - Enjoy your day!

THE IONIANS NAME
When Ionians RUFC was founded in 1926 the historians in the group chose the name Ionians from the ancient all-conquering tribe based in the Greek Islands. The Ionians were only one of the four major tribes of the Hellenic world alongside the Dorians, Aeolians and Achaeans. The Ionians were the peaceful ones, contributing to Philosophy, Art and the workings of Democracy. The Dorians, a much more militaristic tribe, were ignored, despite having a name which is just as easy to spell as Ionians, unlike the other two tribes!

OLD ADVERSARIES
Tynedale played the Hull club, firstly, as the old Hull and East Riding team for 26 years, then as Hull Ionians for a further 10 years.
When League rugby was introduced in 1987 Ionians and Tynedale were founder members of North 1 – level 5 rugby. The teams competed there for thirteen years, until Tyne gained promotion in 2000. Hull finished second to Tynedale that 1999/2000 season, and were then promoted two years later in 2002.
Until 2018 Tynedale dominated the League fixtures, winning 12 of the 14 matches played, However, things then changed dramatically.

MATCHES AFTER 2018/19:-
2018-2019 - Tynedale 20 Hull Ionians 50
2018-2019 - Hull Ionians 38 Tynedale 29
2021-2022 - Hull Ionians 50 Tynedale 14
3021-2022 - Tynedale 18 Hull Ionians 18
2022-2023 - Tynedale 21 Hull Ionians 36
2022-2023 - Hull Ionians 59 Tynedale 7
Some hefty scores by Ionians turned things around

2023-2024 - Tynedale 28 Hull Ionians 25
2023-2024 - Hull Ionians 26 Tynedale 36
2024-2025 - Hull Ionians 12 Tynedale 16
Then back again!:-
2024-2025 - Tynedale 28 Hull Ionians 33
2025-2026 0 Hull Ionians 35 Tynedale 19

League wins are now 15-9 in Tynedale’s favour with one drawn match.
Tynedale 639 points; Hull Ionians 599.
All quite close really.

MATCH EARLIER THIS SEASON

11/10/2025 Hull Ionians 35 Tynedale 19
Before that match in October last year Maliq Holden, the Ionians Head of Rugby and player/coach, wrote in the Match programme “We face a team with a perfect record, five wins from five. They are well-drilled, with big, industrious forwards and a clear identity”
Despite Tynedale’s “clear identity” Hull won by sixteen points. Maliq (11) scored four tries!!!!

HULL IONIANS THIS SEASON
Hull Ionians have had a decent first part of the season and with 16 games gone, and 10 to go, they sit two places below Tynedale in fifth position with 10 fewer league points.
It is worth noting that Hull Ionians don’t mind travelling too much having lost only two of their 9 away matches securing several impressive away victories.

Our 35-19 defeat at Hull Ionians in October has been our biggest reversal of the season to date so we know the challenges but would love to balance the books.

Hull Ionians’s league results to date:-
Fylde 22 Hull Ionians 22
Hull Ionians 35 Hull 19
Macclesfield 31 Hull Ionians 26
Hull Ionians 21 Sheffield 32
Scunthorpe 18 Hull Ionians 24
Hull Ionians 35 Tynedale 19
Wharfedale 30 Hull Ionians 37
Hull Ionians 17 Darlington MP 36
Otley 22 Hull Ionians 45
Hull Ionians 26 Sheffield Tigers 27
Rossendale 0 Hull Ionians 53
Billingham 12 Hull Ionians 39
Hull Ionians 41 Preston Grasshoppers 7
Hull 0 Hull Ionians 29
Sheffield 26 Hull Ionians 17
Hull Ionians 47 Scunthorpe 26

HULL IONIANS WEBSITE
https://www.hullionians.co.uk/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: David Charlton
AR1: Simon Williams
AR2: Dean Lythgoe
Referee Coach: John Heselwood

BALL GIRLS
Tynedale Panthers

TYNEDALE PANTHERS
With girls from our popular and successful Tynedale Panthers carrying out ball girl duties this Saturday it's appropriate that a section on our Panthers features in this week's matchday E-Programme. CLICK HERE to view.

WEATHER FORECAST
Possible light rain, gentle easterly breeze, 8 degrees

OTHER FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND

SATURDAY
Tynedale Raiders v Hull Ionians Buccaneers (1.30pm) – Friendly
Tynedale Hadrians v Ryton Crusaders (2pm) – CaNDY 2 North
Ponteland II v Tynedale Centurions (2pm) - Friendly
Peebles Colts v Tynedale Colts (2pm) – Border Cup
SUNDAY
Tynedale Panthers U14 v Keswick
Tynedale Panthers U16 v Redcar

SELECTED SQUADS