NORTHERN Under-11s and Durham City Under-12s are set to grace a sold-out Twickenham after winning the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup.

A total of 630 players across 35 teams contested the annual tournament at Kingston Park last week, Durham City beating Morpeth 5-0 in the Under-12s final.

Northern triumphed 10-0 over Whitley Bay Rockliff in the under-11s, with both winners now set to walk out and take the applause of a 70,000-strong on the day of the Aviva Premiership final on Saturday, May 26.

The Land Rover Parade of Champions sees all the winners from the regional heats running out at Rugby headquarters, with Newcastle Falcons captain James Hudson among those impressed by the standard.

He said: “It was fantastic to have so many teams at Kingston Park competing and enjoying themselves.

“We all started at junior clubs like these, so I am delighted to support such an event and have been impressed with the standard of rugby being played.”

Melanie Magee from the Falcons Community Foundation added: “It was great to see so many youngsters taking part from Alnwick to Sandal, and Cumbria to Whitley Bay.

“The standard of rugby was excellent and we were delighted they were all able to stay and watch the Newcastle Falcons’ victory over Sale Sharks after the festival.

“Many thanks to all players, coaches, referees, volunteers and of course Land Rover for their fantastic support of grassroots rugby.”