Newcastle Falcons vs Leicester Tigers Programme

MATCH-DAY PROGRAMME
NEWCASTLE
FALCONS VS
LEICESTER TIGERS
FRI 29.03.24
KO 19:45

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HOME
STARTING XV
1
15 ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO 2345678
14 ADAM RADWAN
13 TOM PENNY
12 CAMERON HUTCHISON
11 BEN REDSHAW
10 BRETT CONNON
9 SAM STUART
REPLACEMENTS
PHIL BRANTINGHAM
JAMIE BLAMIRE
RICHARD PALFRAMAN
TIM CARDALL
SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES
PHILIP VAN DER WALT
SAM CROSS
CALLUM CHICK (C)
16 BRYAN BYRNE 17 MURRAY MCCALLUM 18 EDUARDO BELLO 19 JOHN HAWKINS
20 JOHN KELLY 21 BEN DOUGLAS 22 RORY JENNINGS 23 OLIVER SPENCER
STARTING XV
1 JAMES CRONIN
15 FREDDIE STEWARD 2345678 JULIÁN MONTOYA (C)
14 JOSH BASSETT
WILL HURD
13 MATT SCOTT
HARRY WELLS
12 SOLOMONE KATA KYLE HATHERELL
11 OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS HANRO LIEBENBERG
10 HANDRÉ POLLARD OLLY CRACKNELL
9 JACK VAN POORTVLIET JASPER WIESE
REPLACEMENTS
16 CHARLIE CLARE 17 JAMES WHITCOMBE 18 DAN RICHARDSON 19 FINN CARNDUFF
20 EMEKA ILIONE 21 TOM WHITELEY 22 JAMIE SHILLCOCK 23 PHIL COKANASIGA
AWAY
REFEREE: KARL DICKSON
ASSISTANT REFEREES: JACK MAKEPEACE, JAMIE LEAHY
TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL: STUART TERHEEGE
TIME KEEPER: ALAN HUGHES
CITING OFFICER: BUDGE POUNTNEY

WE’LL BE DIFFICULT
TO BEAT, ESPECIALLY
UP HERE

STEVE
DIAMOND
CONSULTANT DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
I would like to start my first programme notes by thanking all of
our supporters, staff and players for the welcome I’ve received
since joining Newcastle Falcons.
It’s been a strange period in having eight weeks without a
Premiership game, but it’s allowed us to really concentrate on
our fundamentals. We’ve got a deep and narrow focus going
into these final five matches, and we’ve started to see signs
of it during the friendly win at Sale Sharks and last weekend’s
Gallagher Premiership game at Exeter.
It was obviously disappointing not to get the bonus point last
Saturday because I thought the lads worked really hard, but you
can’t concede that amount of penalties and yellow cards at this
level.
I’ve got no doubt that we’ll win one or more of our remaining
games, and we’ll be highly competitive in all of them. We’ll be
difficult to beat, especially up here, and I know from my own
experience just how hard it is to come and win as an away team
at Kingston Park.
Longer term we want to set some ambition around the place,
which is a big part of what I’m trying to do here with our owner,
Semore Kurdi, who I must say has done a magnificent job. He has
supported this club for well over a decade and he is committed
for the long term.
We’re on with the process of looking at the make-up of the
squad going forward. We’ve got a massive catchment area
with loads of talent coming through, a great owner, a good fan
base and loads of experienced staff working at the club who
absolutely love it. We’ll sort out the recruitment, and honestly,
I’m buzzing about what we can do here.
There has naturally been some focus on a few of the homegrown
lads who have chosen to move on in the summer. There’s no
point crying over spilt milk, but what we can do is look forward
and create an environment where those kinds of guys won’t
want to leave – or if they do eventually leave, they leave once
they’ve played 70 to 100 Premiership games for us.
I’ll never come out and complain about our budget, or not having
the same funds as some of the other clubs. I know what my
budget is and I’ll stick to it. You look at Premier League football
– the likes of a Brighton, a Bournemouth or a Wolves won’t have
the same budget as Liverpool or Man City, but they compete
with them, and that’s what we’ll do. We have to be slicker in our
recruitment and retention, and we will be.
Obviously a number of players will need to move on, but it will be
handled in the right way. It’s not nice telling people they haven’t
got a job, but it needs to be done. It needs to be articulated in
an honest and direct manner, with reasons given. I’ve always
operated like that, and whilst it’s never nice to receive that
message, at least you know where you stand.
We can’t allow our best young players to leave at 19 or 20, and
we’ll create a healthy club. I’ve actually been really impressed
with what I’ve inherited from an infrastructure point of view,
and the players can’t complain at all about the set-up here.
Even in terms of the attendances it looks like our supporters
are sticking with us, despite having struggled in the league. I
think it’s a great position from which to build, and I’ll assist the
owners in doing that.
Thanks again for all your support so far, and I hope you enjoy
what promises to be a hugely physical contest against Leicester
Tigers.
DIMES
STEVE DIAMOND - DIRECTOR OF RUGBY NOTES
5

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9

It has been a busy time on and off the field for Brett Connon, with the Carlisle points
machine combining his pivotal position as Newcastle Falcons fly-half with his new-found
role as a father.
It has been a busy time on and off the field for Brett Connon,
with the Carlisle points machine combining his pivotal position
as Newcastle Falcons fly-half with his new-found role as a
father.
The 27-year-old reached the 500-point mark for the club during
last weekend’s outing at Exeter, with the academy graduate
having played 102 games for the team he supported as a boy.
But away from rugby there have been big changes, too, with
the Ireland Under-20s cap revealing a new arrival to the Connon
clan.
“She’s called Nora Fleur Connon,” says Brett, who had a mad
dash to attend the birth of his daughter after helping the
Falcons to a 31-28 victory at Sale Sharks earlier this month.
“When we played the friendly at Sale three weeks ago I knew
my fiancé Steph was due so I drove my own car down rather
than going on the team bus, and one of the lads had my phone
on the touchline in case anything happened during the game.
As soon as the match was finished I jumped in the car to drive
straight back to Newcastle, and five minutes before I got there
Steph started to go into labour.
“It’s obviously very early days still, but everybody says
fatherhood is the best job you’ll ever have. I’m getting used to
the sleeping patterns and everything else, but it’s amazing. I’m
learning how to train after a little less sleep, but like people
always say, it certainly puts things in perspective when you get
home at the end of the day and you’ve got your baby there.”
Reflecting on the ‘northern derby’, he says: “The Sale game
was brilliant for us. I know it was just a friendly so nobody
was going overboard in terms of celebrating or analysing it too
much, but Sale are still a very strong, aggressive and physical
team. I feel like we met that challenge, and we showed some
of the things we’ve been working on during our six-week mini
pre-season.
“I know it’s been said that the result doesn’t really
matter in a friendly game, but to me, after the season
we’ve had, I think it actually did matter. It gives
us the confidence we need going into the final
few rounds of the season, and a bit of belief
in knowing we’re capable of getting a close
game across the line against a good side.
We wanted to show our fans that we’re
starting to turn things round, and while
it’s not going to happen overnight I
think it was a decent start.”
PLAYER INTERVEIW - EDUARDO BELLO
The Sale game was
brilliant for us
10

BRETT
CONNON
PLAYER INTERVEIW - BRETT CONNON
11

Having undergone the strange scenario of a two-month wait
between Premiership games due to the Six Nations, Connon
gives a players’ perspective on the mid-season hiatus.
“I don’t want to say too many bad things about the structure of
the league because I know they have a lot of things to consider,
but these last couple of months have been pretty slow without
any Premiership matches,” he says.
“It’s nice of course to have a little bit of a break in terms of
players’ bodies and all the rest of it, but I think a week or two
would have been sufficient. Yeah, it’s a time for guys to switch
off a bit, but when you start talking about five, six and seven
weeks, it becomes really tough for everyone. It’s basically
a second pre-season, but I suppose for us it’s been a great
opportunity to have a bit of a re-set with everything that’s
been going on.”
The arrival of Steve Diamond has brought renewed clarity for
the squad, with the players fully aware of what part they can
play in turning round the fortunes of the club.
“Dimes has been very clear about how we wants things to run,
which as players is all you can ask. He’s really direct with that,
everyone has been on board straightaway and you know
exactly where you stand. He pushes certain elements of the
game which are crucial to winning Premiership matches, and
that’s where we’re striving to improve. He’s very direct in terms
of where we are and what the challenge is, but he’s also really
positive about where we can get to.
“Dimes has been clear
how we wants things
to run”
“Let’s not try and gloss over where our season has gone so far
– we’re in a tough spot – but I think he is putting in place some
realistic goals and processes which can begin to help us turn
things around.”
Connon and his charges will be out for a repeat of the 45-26
demolition Newcastle inflicted on Leicester on their most recent
visit to Kingston Park, recalling: “Last season against Leicester
up here was one of my favourite games I’ve ever played in.
“Getting a bonus-point win against the champions – it was just
one of those days where everything clicked. Sometimes it’s hard
to put your finger on how or why it happens like that on one

PLAYER INTERVEIW - BRETT CONNON
day and not another, but it was a very good Leicester team and
we were good value for the result. It was a long time ago so I
wouldn’t say it’s hugely relevant to this game coming up, but it
can still give a bit of confidence to us.
“The two away games against Leicester this season have
probably been the most difficult results we’ve experienced this
season, but I think with that comes a great deal of motivation.
We need to turn it around and show what we’re about, especially
with it being our first home game under a new director of rugby.
“There’s no denying Leicester are a good team with a lot of top
players, but I see no reason why we can’t front up and do the job.
They’ve got a good set-piece which drives a lot of their game,
and when the opportunities come they’re very clinical. I think
we’ve got plenty of threat within our own team, though, and it’s
a case of making sure we take the chances we create.”
Asked what he is hoping for during the remaining five rounds
of the campaign, Connon says: “What we want is an identity.
We’ve been pushing and the way we’ve been playing is better,
so the next stage is turning it into results in the Premiership. Of
course that’s not fully within our control, but what we can do is
be completely on top of all the elements we can influence.
“We’ve got some serious danger in our back three, and we’ve
always had a strong set piece. We can create stress and
excitement, but we need to be more complete as a team and
not just rely on moments of brilliance from our X-factor players.
That means our skill, our knowledge and our mind-set. I think
over the last seven or eight weeks we’ve really improved that,
and we’ve started to see the fruits of that. I feel like it’s a new
beginning for us.”
“I feel like it’s a new
beginning for us”
As well as striving to improve the standing of the Falcons,
Connon admits he is among the number of players vying for a
new deal beyond the summer, explaining: “It’s very hard when
you’re coming into that contract time of year and guys don’t
know what the future holds for them. That’s just professional
sport and we all understand that, and to be fair to Dimes he’s
been very open with the lads about the whole situation.
“Premiership rugby has lost three clubs in the last 18 months
and the Championship winners have also gone, so there are
14

fewer contracts to go round. That’s just where rugby is at the
minute. Yeah, it might drive motivation for some guys in that
they’re playing for a contract, but it’s also a difficult position to
be in, because it’s your livelihood.
“It can be stressful, but you’ve got to look at it in a positive light.
If you play well you’ll put yourself in the best possible position
to get a contract, and it has to come from a place of positive
motivation rather than trepidation around not getting one. I
think the coaches here have dealt really well with how they’ve
talked to the players about it, and it’ a case of trying to gain a
contract rather than trying not to lose one.”
On the wider question of where the sport stands, he adds:
“Where rugby is at the moment, I think it’s tough to keep
everyone happy. We’ve lost a number of clubs which obviously
is terrible for the people involved, but the product on the
field I think is really good. Even though results haven’t gone
Newcastle’s way I really enjoy the Premiership and feel like it’s a
great league for supporters and TV viewers, and the Six Nations
is massive in putting the sport in the shop window.
“That last weekend of Six Nations action was brilliant, and things
like the Netflix and Amazon documentaries ae taking the game
to another level in terms of public awareness. It’s becoming
more of a spectacle, and the sense I get is that fans are enjoying
it.
“The main problem is that rugby is a very complex game, and I’m
not sure you can really properly solve that one. I’ve got family
members who come here every week and still don’t understand
the laws, but they’re up off their seats when Adam Radwan goes
off on a run or someone puts in a big hit. They love the collisions
and the excitement without really getting all the tactical
nuances, and to a large degree I think that’s a good start.
“Fans love
the collisions
and the
excitement”
“Things like the TV documentaries also help to get the guys’
characters and personal stories over, and we as players know
we’ve got a part to play in promoting the sport. We’ve got to be
open to media requests and opportunities to let people in, even
though some guys will enjoy that more than others.
“In any squad you’ll have your more introverted players and the
lads who are happy to have cameras around, but the Falcons
are very open to that kind of thing and I think we’ve had a good
response to the bits and pieces we’ve put out there. We’ve got
loads of great characters within rugby and that’s what we as
players need to be open in conveying, because a lot of people
make their judgement on what you are about based solely on 80
minutes on a weekend.”
PLAYER INTERVEIW - BRETT CONNON
15

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COMMUNITY
FUN-FILLED SCHOOL
SESSIONS
Since January, Falcons Community has been delivering rugby
sessions in local schools across the North East through the
Schools Connections programme which is supported by
recruitment specialist, AK Teaching.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Our community development officers have been attending local
schools to introduce rugby to students who may have never
picked up a rugby ball before.
The programme aims to provide an opportunity for students to
learn about rugby, improve their skills and develop a passion for
the game. The hope is that this will lead students to transition
into grassroots clubs or sustained involvement in the game.
Mr Dynan, a Year 6 teacher at James Knott C of E Primary
School, said: “During the rugby sessions Dan from Falcons
Community has been able to quickly build a rapport with the
Year 6 pupils, and has engaged them throughout the sessions
he has delivered. The children enjoy the different warm-up
activities, and their rugby skills are developing.”
With AK Teaching’s support, students have been able to discover
a new sport and develop new skills that will serve them well.
To learn more about the Schools Connections
programme and how you can get involved
email kallie.smith@akteaching.co.uk and
gavin.beasley@newcastle-falcons.co.uk.
18

THE DEFENDER
CUP RETURNS
The longstanding Defender Premiership Rugby Cup festivals
continue this season with Newcastle Falcons alongside Falcons
Community hosting the annual grassroots rugby event for
youngsters on April 28 at Kingston Park Stadium.
For each U11 and U12 team entering there is the chance to win
an exclusive trip to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final at
Twickenham Stadium on June 8.
Vital in fostering the values at the heart of the game, the
Defender Premiership Rugby Cup is a key part of the grassroots
rugby calendar each season that allows Defender to connect
with the rugby community and the people at the heart of it.
The events are designed to provide aspiring young players
with the chance to play competitive fixtures in a format to aid
their development, all within the spirit of rugby’s core values of
teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship.
Allowing them to learn vital lessons that will serve them both on
and off the rugby pitch.
Since its inception, the Defender Premiership Rugby Cup has
helped over 100,000 youngsters discover rugby through the
annual rugby events, with some realising their dreams of going
on to play for Premiership Rugby clubs.
Defender has been supporting rugby at all levels in the UK for
nearly two decades - from the grassroots to the elite. Land
Rover’s support for grassroots rugby in the UK is typified
through the Defender Premiership Rugby Cup, a nationwide
series of rugby festivals for U11 and U12 teams.
FOUNDATION
HELPS INSPIRE
STEM EDUCATION
The relaunch event took place at The Walker Activity Dome
where students and teachers from Byker Primary School were
invited to participate and join in with the sessions. International
rugby legends Rory Best and Sarah Hunter, along with current
Newcastle Falcons players James Elliott and Michael van
Vuuren, attended the event with NRF staff, Sage, Sportable and
Sage Foundation volunteers.
Newcastle Rugby Foundation’s Tackling Insight programme
relaunched last month as it enters its second year. Since its
inception in 2023 the initiative has doubled in size and is now
benefiting over 1,200 school children.
This project aims to inspire children to consider careers in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Partnering
with Sage (official insights partner of Six Nations Rugby) and
Sportable, they aim to make STEM subjects more engaging for
young people, particularly girls, using rugby and its core values
as a tool to inspire and develop learning through innovation,
data, and insight.
Newcastle Rugby Foundation staff designed and will deliver
classroom and practical sessions alongside Sage Foundation
volunteers. They will also receive support from Sportable, a
global data collection and analytics platform that designed the
smart ball technology throughout the delivery.
The programme will demonstrate how technology is being used
in sports to bring better insights into the game, helping teams
make better tactical game-winning decisions.
At the end of the project, participating schools will be invited
to a tag rugby festival at Kingston Park Stadium. Selected
students will attend a Premiership fixture at Kingston Park,
showing their learning in action.
COMMUNITY NEWS
19

21

CLUB NEWS
CLUB NEWS
22
The early bird window for Newcastle Falcons’ 2024/25 season
tickets has now concluded but there’s still great value to be
had with our general sale seasonal memberships.
Included in your season ticket will be 14 home fixtures at
Kingston Park, granting you access to all our regular-season
home league games and all home cup pool fixtures.
Designed to appeal to all supporters, packages start from just
£185 for adults and from as little as £40 for U18s.
We’ve also brought back concessionary pricing for the new
season, so if you are over 65 or aged between 18 and 23 years
old you can access an additional discount on your membership.
We will also be retaining our FREE junior season ticket for the
new campaign.
Alongside a full paying adult and specific to our North Stand,
South Stand and C & D sections of the West Stand, children
under the age of 12 and club-affiliated under-16s can enjoy live
rugby at Kingston Park at no cost.
Existing season ticket holders will have their seat reserved
until the Sunday May 12, after which all seats will be made
available for general sale, so to keep your seat, make sure you
renew before the deadline.

On top of access to some high-quality top-flight rugby for great
value, all Newcastle Falcons season ticket members can access
a significant number of additional benefits, including:
• 10% discount on retail merchandise.
• 10% discount on additional match tickets.
• 10% discount on Newcastle Rugby Foundation coaching
camps (excludes residential).
• 25% discount at Gaucho restaurants nationally.
• 10% discount at Firestone Artisan Newcastle pizzeria.
• Priority booking for home knock-out fixtures.
• Exclusive access to special season ticket holder
merchandise.
• Exclusive invitation for a season ticket holder and a
friend to two talk-ins per season.
• Entry into international ticket ballot.
• Claim one FREE ticket per season ticket to race meetings
at Hexham Racecourse (subject to availability).
• 10% discount on room hire at Newcastle Falcons.
• Ticket transfer (within 4 weeks and subject to
availability).
Seasonal car parking is also now on sale for supporters, and for
the 2024/25 season we’ve changed the system up slightly.
There will be two seasonal packages for supporters to choose
from.
Limited to 100 spaces, the Preferred package guarantees
supporters a premium parking space on the East Stand tarmac
at Kingston Park for the 14 home fixtures included in the
seasonal membership, whereas the Standard package secures
your place on the East Stand gravel overflow.
Preferred seasonal parking is available for £168 and Standard
for £140, with both packages available to purchase via the club
website.
To renew or purchase a new 2024/25 season ticket please visit
the club website, or contact our ticket office on ticketoffice@
newcastle-falcons.co.uk or 0191 214 2800.
OPENING HOURS:
Mon: 12pm – 5pm
Tue: 12pm – 5pm
Wed: 12pm – 5pm
Thu: 12pm – 5pm
Fri: 12pm – 5pm
Sat: 10am – 4pm
Sun: CLOSED
Details of seasonal hospitality and season ticket distribution for
the 2024/25 season will be issued in due course.
We also wanted to make supporters aware that for the 2024/25
season there will be more thorough ticket checks throughout
the stadium bowl to ensure supporters are seated or standing
in the correct areas.
CLUB NEWS
23

WELCOME TO THE
TRUE NORTH
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 - 24
FIRST TEAM
PLAYERS
1. 1. 1.
1.
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
JOSH
BAINBRIDGE
JOSH
BARTON
EDUARDO
BELLO
JAMIE
BLAMIRE
BACK ROW
SCRUM-HALF
PROP
HOOKER
BORN: 17/04/96 BORN: 15/12/97 BORN: 27/11/95
BORN: 22/12/97
HEIGHT: 1.83M (6 FT) HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
HEIGHT: 1.90M (6FT 2)
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 103KG (16 ST 3) WEIGHT: 85KG (13ST 5) WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 12)
WEIGHT: 112KG (17ST 8)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20S HONOURS: ARGENTINA HONOURS: ENGLAND
SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
26

1.
1.
1.
1.
PHIL
BRANTINGHAM
PROP
BORN: 02/10/01
HEIGHT: 1.83M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 117KG (18ST 5)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
SPONSORED BY
ADAM
BROCKLEBANK
PROP
BORN: 06/09/95
HEIGHT: 1.88M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 125KG (19ST 9)
HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
LOUIS
BROWN
FULL-BACK
BORN: 17/02/98
HEIGHT: 1.87M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 91KG (14ST 5)
HONOURS: ENGLAND
COUNTIES U18
SPONSORED BY
BRYAN
BYRNE
HOOKER
BORN: 09/09/93
HEIGHT: 1.78M (5FT 10)
WEIGHT: 104KG (16ST 5)
HONOURS: IRELAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
1.
1.
1.
1.
TIM
CARDALL
LOCK
BORN: 13/01/97
HEIGHT: 1.98M (6FT 6)
WEIGHT: 121KG (19ST)
HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS
SPONSORED BY
CALLUM
CHICK
BACK ROW
BORN: 25/11/96
HEIGHT: 1.93M (6FT 3)
WEIGHT: 115KG (18ST 1)
HONOURS: ENGLAND
SPONSORED BY
Geoff & Marie
Penrice
BRETT
CONNON
FLY-HALF
BORN: 29/08/96
HEIGHT: 1.76M (5FT 8)
WEIGHT: 89KG (14ST)
HONOURS: IRELAND U20
SPONSORED BY
SAM
CROSS
BACK ROW
BORN: 28/8/92
HEIGHT: 1.90M (6FT 2)
WEIGHT: 100KG(15ST 10)
HONOURS: WALES
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
27

1. 1.
1.
1.
SEBASTIAN
DE CHAVES
SPONSORED BY
JAMES
ELLIOTT
JOHN
HAWKINS
LOCK
SCRUM-HALF
LOCK
BORN: 30/10/90 BORN: 29/08/98
BORN: 11/11/96
HEIGHT: 2.02M (6FT 6) HEIGHT: 1.77M (5FT 10)
HEIGHT: 1.95M (6FT 5)
WEIGHT: 117KG (18ST 5) WEIGHT: 82KG (12ST 13)
WEIGHT: 117KG (18ST 6)
HONOURS: SOUTH AFRICA U20 HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS
Jacksons Law
Firm
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
OLLIE
LEATHERBARROW
BACK ROW
BORN: 08/04/02
HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 105KG (16ST 7)
HONOURS: SCOTLAND U20
SPONSORED BY
1. 1.
1.
1.
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
RORY
JENNINGS
JONH
KELLY
ZACH
KERR
FLY-HALF/CENTRE
LOCK/BACK ROW
CENTRE/WING
BORN: 24/12/95 BORN: 11/10/95
BORN: 13/12/99
HEIGHT: 1.76M (5FT 8) HEIGHT: 1.93M (6FT 4)
HEIGHT: 1.80M (5FT 9)
WEIGHT: 84KG (13ST 3) WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 12)
WEIGHT: 93KG (14ST 9)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20S
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
CAMERON
HUTCHISON
CENTRE
BORN: 01/06/98
HEIGHT: 1.82M (6 FT)
WEIGHT: 102KG (16 ST 1)
HONOURS: SCOTLAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
28

1. 1.
1.
1.
FREDDIE
LOCKWOOD
CHARLIE
MADDISON
BACK ROW
HOOKER
BORN: 31/12/00 BORN: 24/06/91
HEIGHT: 1.88M (6FT 1) HEIGHT: 1.88M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 116KG (18ST 3) WEIGHT: 109KG (17ST 2)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U19
MURRAY
MCCALLUM
PROP
BORN: 16/03/96
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 126KG (19ST 12)
HONOURS: SCOTLAND
KIRAN
MCDONALD
LOCK
BORN: 01/11/94
HEIGHT: 2.02M (6FT 7)
WEIGHT: 116KG (18ST 4)
SPONSORED BY
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SPONSORED BY
The Business
Agility Coach
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
1. 1.
1.
1.
MATIAS
MORONI
ELLIOTT
OBATOYINBO
CENTRE
FULL-BACK
BORN: 10/07/91 BORN: 09/10/98
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT) HEIGHT: 1.86M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 92KG (14ST 6)
WEIGHT: 89KG (14ST)
HONOURS: ARGENTINA
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
MATIAS
ORLANDO
CENTRE
BORN: 14/11/91
HEIGHT: 1.83M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 94KG (14ST 11)
HONOURS: ARGENTINA
SPONSORED BY
HUGH
O’SULLIVAN
SCRUM-HALF
BORN: 24/2/98
HEIGHT: 1.78M (5FT 9)
WEIGHT: 84KG (13ST 3)
HONOURS: IRELAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
29

1. 1.
1.
1.
RICHARD
PALFRAMAN
TOM
PENNY
GUY
PEPPER
PROP
FULL-BACK
BACK ROW
BORN: 20/12/93 BORN: 13/10/94
BORN: 15/04/03
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT 1) HEIGHT: 1.79M (5FT 9)
HEIGHT: 1.90M (6FT 2)
WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 13) WEIGHT: 87KG (13ST 9)
WEIGHT: 105KG (16ST 7)
HONOURS: ENGLAND A
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
VEREIMI
QOROWALE
WING/CENTRE
BORN: 27/01/95
HEIGHT: 1.86M (5FT 11)
WEIGHT: 102KG (16 ST 1)
HONOURS: BRITISH ARMY
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
1. 1.
1.
1.
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
ADAM
RADWAN
SPONSORED BY
PEDRO
RUBIOLO
WING
BACK ROW/LOCK
BORN: 30/12/97 BORN: 21/12/02
HEIGHT: 1.79M (5FT 9) HEIGHT: 1.91M (6FT 2)
WEIGHT: 89KG (14ST) WEIGHT: 114KG (17ST 13)
HONOURS: ENGLAND
HONOURS: ARGENTINA
The
Blackbirds
SPONSORED BY
IWAN
STEPHENS
WING
BORN: 24/03/02
HEIGHT: 1.70M (5FT 6)
WEIGHT: 83KG (13ST)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
BEN
STEVENSON
WING/CENTRE
BORN: 19/7/98
HEIGHT: 1.89M (6FT 2)
WEIGHT: 99KG (15ST 8)
HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS
30

1.
1.
1.
1.
SAM
STUART
SCRUM-HALF
BORN: 27/09/91
HEIGHT: 1.73M (5FT 7)
WEIGHT: 83KG (13ST)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
MARK
TAMPIN
PROP
BORN: 20/01/92
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 122KG (19ST 2)
JOSH
THOMAS
FLY-HALF
BORN: 30/06/00
HEIGHT: 1.78M (5FT 8)
WEIGHT: 82KG (12ST 12)
HONOURS: WALES U20
PHILIP
VAN DER WALT
LOCK
BORN: 14/07/89
HEIGHT: 1.93M (6FT 3)
WEIGHT: 112KG (17ST 9)
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
1.
1.
MICHAEL
VAN VUUREN
HOOKER
BORN: 28/09/91
HEIGHT: 1.87M (6FT 1)
WEIGHT: 106KG (16ST 10)
HONOURS: SOUTH AFRICA U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
GEORGE
WACOKECOKE
CENTRE
BORN: 23/10/95
HEIGHT: 1.80M (5FT 9)
WEIGHT: 94KG (14ST 11)
HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS
31

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 - 24
FIRST TEAM
STAFF
1.
STEVE
DIAMOND
CONSULTANT DIRECTOR
OF RUGBY
1. 1. 1.
1. 1.
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM STAFF
32
MICKY
WARD
COACH
TOM
WILLIAMS
SCOTT
BALDWIN
MARK
LAYCOCK
SCOTT
MACLEOD
COACH COACH
COACH COACH

1. 1. 1.
1.
JOHN
STOKOE
TEAM MANAGER
STEVE
BREMNER
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
MATT
HODKINSON
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
KEVIN
MCSHANE
HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
1. 1. 1.
1.
LEWIS
WILLIAMS
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
SHAUN
MCLAREN
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
RHYS
GRIFFITHS
HEAD PHYSIO
ANDY
SHEA
PHYSIO
1. 1. 1.
1.
DERMOT
AUSTIN
PHYSIO
RACHEL
SCURFIELD
LEAD DOCTOR
DEAN
SHIPSEY
MATCH-DAY DOCTOR
1. 1. 1.
1.
MATT
GLOVER
KIT CO-ORDINATOR
ALAN
BASKERVILLE
KIT CO-ORDINATOR
ANDREW
CRUICKSHANK
PSYCHOLOGIST
ANDY
RAMSHAW
MATCH-DAY DOCTOR
LINDSAY
MCNAUGHTON
PERFORMANCE NUTRITIONIST
SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM STAFF
33

WELCOME TO THE
TRUE NORTH
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 -24
SENIOR
ACADEMY
1. 1. 1.
1.
SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS
FINN
BAKER
SAM
CLARK
LUKE
COULSTON
LOCK PROP LOCK
BORN: 17/10/04 BORN: 31/1/04 BORN: 17/07/04
HEIGHT: 2.01M (6FT 7) HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT) HEIGHT: 2M (6FT 6)
WEIGHT: 100KG (15ST 10) WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 13) WEIGHT: 95KG (14ST 13)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U18
HONOURS: ENGLAND U18
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
MARK
DORMER
PROP
BORN: 16/09/02
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 110KG (17ST 4)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
34

1. 1.
1.
1.
BEN
DOUGLAS
SPONSORED BY
OLLIE
FLETCHER
NATHAN
GREENWOOD
SCRUM-HALF
HOOKER
WING
BORN: 16/01/04 BORN: 09/09/02
BORN: 20/11/03
HEIGHT: 1.77M (5FT 8) HEIGHT: 1.83M (6FT)
HEIGHT: 1.75M (5FT 7)
WEIGHT: 75KG (11ST 11) WEIGHT: 106KG (16ST 9)
WEIGHT: 77KG (12ST 1)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
HONOURS: GREAT BRITAIN 7S
JOAN MILNE
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
LOUIE
JOHNSON
FLY-HALF
BORN: 13/06/03
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 93KG (14ST 9)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
SPONSORED BY
1. 1.
1.
1.
ISAAC
KELLER
JACOB
OLIVER
SPONSORED BY
BEN
REDSHAW
PROP
HOOKER
CENTRE/FULL-BACK
BORN: 30/03/05 BORN: 15/3/05
BORN: 10/1/05
HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT)
HEIGHT: 1.77M (5FT 10)
HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 114KG (17ST 13) WEIGHT: 95KG (14ST 13)
WEIGHT: 80KG (12ST 8)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U18
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SPONSORED BY
Hodgkinson &
Lawson
MIKE
REWCASTLE
PROP
BORN: 17/05/04
HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 113KG (17ST 11)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U18
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS
35

1. 1.
1.
ADAM
SCOTT
OLIVER
SPENCER
MARCUS
TIFFEN
LOCK
FULL-BACK
BACK ROW
BORN: 27/11/01 BORN: 22/2/04
BORN: 03/09/02
HEIGHT: 1.99M (6FT 6)
HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT)
HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT)
WEIGHT: 110KG (17ST 4) WEIGHT: 94KG (14ST 11)
WEIGHT: 100KG (15ST 10)
HONOURS: ENGLAND U20
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
AVAILABLE TO
SPONSOR
SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS + ACADEMY STAFF
36
STAFF
1. 1. 1.
1.
ACADEMY
JAMES
PONTON
HEAD OF ACADEMY
MARK
LAYCOCK
COACH
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 -24
PJ
BUTLER
ACADEMY COACH
JACK
HAYES
ACADEMY COACH

1. 1. 1.
1.
KEITH
ROBINSON
ACADEMY DPP MANAGER
NICK
TODD
ACADEMY PERFORMANCE
MANAGER
MICHAEL
FERGUSON
SENIOR ACADEMY STRENGTH
& CONDITIONING COACH
JOE
MARTIN
JUNIOR ACADEMY ATHLETIC
DEVELOPMENT COACH
1. 1.
1.
CATHERINE
BOAL
ACADEMY PHYSIO
JAKE
GRIFFIN
ACADEMY PHYSIO
CHERYL
ABDUL
ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR
BE PART OF THE TEAM
TO SPONSOR A PLAYER, EMAIL
corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
0191 214 2892
SQUAD 2023-24 - ACADEMY STAFF
37

PLAYER STATS
Name
Falcons
career
apps
Falcons
career
points
Falcons
career
tries
Season
2023-24
apps
Season
2023-24
points
Season
2023-24
tries
Name
Falcons
career
apps
Falcons
career
points
Falcons
career
tries
Season
2023-24
apps
Season
2023-24
points
Season
2023-24
tries
Josh Bainbridge 8 0 0 8 0 0 Charlie Maddison 29 5 1 2 0 0
Finn Baker 1 0 0 1 0 0 Murray McCallum 18 5 1 18 5 1
Josh Barton 16 10 2 7 0 0 Kiran McDonald 13 10 2 13 10 2
Eduardo Bello 11 5 1 11 5 1 Matias Moroni 22 10 2 7 5 1
Jamie Blamire 102 125 25 13 25 5 Elliott Obatoyinbo 32 15 3 14 0 0
Phil Brantingham 26 0 0 18 0 0 Jacob Oliver 0 0 0 0 0 0
Adam Brocklebank 121 0 0 21 0 0 Matias Orlando 45 20 4 10 5 1
Louis Brown 6 15 3 6 15 3 Hugh O'Sullivan 15 5 1 15 5 1
Bryan Byrne 15 10 2 15 10 2 Richard Palframan 32 0 0 4 0 0
Tim Cardall 11 0 0 11 0 0 Tom Penny 99 50 10 13 0 0
Callum Chick 142 105 21 17 10 2 Guy Pepper 23 20 4 15 5 1
Sam Clark 1 0 0 1 0 0 Max Pepper 1 5 1 1 5 1
Brett Connon 102 500 2 14 80 0 Vereimi Qorowale 2 5 1 0 0 0
Luke Coulston 1 0 0 0 0 0 Adam Radwan 111 270 54 17 25 5
Sam Cross 14 0 0 14 0 0 Ben Redshaw 7 5 1 7 5 1
Sebastien de Chaves 56 10 2 17 10 2 Mike Rewcastle 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mark Dormer 6 0 0 3 0 0 Pedro Rubiolo 17 5 1 10 0 0
Ben Douglas 7 5 1 4 5 1 Adam Scott 1 0 0 1 0 0
James Elliott 7 0 0 7 0 0 Oliver Spencer 6 0 0 6 0 0
Ollie Fletcher 12 15 3 4 10 2 Iwan Stephens 23 55 11 11 35 7
Nathan Greenwood 2 5 1 1 0 0 Ben Stevenson 76 95 21 10 15 3
John Hawkins 11 0 0 11 0 0 Sam Stuart 93 40 8 11 0 0
Cameron Hutchison 11 0 0 11 0 0 Mark Tampin 84 0 0 10 0 0
Rory Jennings 13 19 0 13 19 0 Corbin Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 0
Louie Johnson 16 72 1 12 64 1 Josh Thomas 14 21 0 5 4 0
Isaac Keller 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marcus Tiffen 9 10 2 2 0 0
John Kelly 7 0 0 7 0 0 Philip van der Walt 50 15 3 9 0 0
Zach Kerr 17 15 3 6 5 1 Michael van Vuuren 10 5 1 10 5 1
Ollie Leatherbarrow 4 0 0 4 0 0 George Wacokecoke 70 85 17 6 5 1
Freddie Lockwood 40 15 3 15 5 1
PLAYER STATS
39

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Neil Frankland
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
Kingsley Hyland’s rugby reminiscences continue,
looking back on games played 35, 25, 15 and 5 years ago.
46

35 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1989: GOSFORTH
21-9 WEST HARTLEPOOL
MARCH 29, 1989:
HARTLEPOOL ROVERS 9-13
GOSFORTH
Easter came early in 1989 towards the end of another season
that provided evidence of a decline in the club’s fortunes,
which was not arrested until the change of name and move to
Kingston Park 18 months later.
an even more dour affair, with no love lost between the two
teams. Gosforth managed two tries through centre Tony
Henderson and scrum-half Dave Walker, with fly-half Peter
Clark adding a penalty and conversion.
Traditionally Easter was a time of rugby tours, when clubs went
away to another part of the country to take on opponents who
would not otherwise feature on their fixture lists. But domestic
tours could not happen unless some clubs stayed at home, and
so at Easter 1989 Gosforth had the doubtful privilege of facing
the two principal Hartlepool sides.
Neither game was particularly memorable. Gosforth were
comfortable winners over West in the dying days of their final
season at the Great North Road ground, with tries from Ross
Wilkinson, Tony Elliott, Sheldon Byrne and Giles Smallwood, with
fly-half Rob Coulson adding a penalty and conversion.
In those days the players had to play the full 80 minutes unless
certified injured by a doctor, and so a stand-out feature of this
long weekend is the number of players who played in both
games, as can be seen from the following lineups:
March 27: D.Briggs; T.Henderson: R.Wilkinson; D.Clegg:
T.Elliott; R.Coulson; D.Walker; P.Flowers; R.Parker; J.Curry;
D.Morley; S.Bainbridge; S.Byrne; N.Frankland; G.Smallwood.
March 29: R.Coulson; D.Briggs; R.Wilkinson; T.Henderson;
T.Elliott; P.Clark; D.Walker; R.Moffitt; N.Frankland; P.Flowers;
D.Morley; C.Hall: D.Davidson; S.Byrne; G.Smallwood.
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
The Easter Monday match at the Friarage against Rovers was
47

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ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
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25 years ago – March 31,
1999
Newcastle Falcons 43-20
London Scottish
Following their success in winning the Premiership at the
first attempt the previous year, season 1998-99 was one of
disappointment .
as the Falcons never really recovered from
losing two of their first three league fixtures - eventually ending
the season in eighth place in a division then containing 14 clubs.
This was offset to an extent by reaching the final of the
Tetley Bitter Cup, but even then a lacklustre display saw them
outplayed by Wasps.
This victory against a struggling London Scottish provided some
respite, although they were heavily reliant on the boot of Jonny
Wilkinson with a personal tally of 23 points.
In front of a crowd of just 2,506 Scottish scored first when
South African fly-half Jannie de Beer went over in the corner
as the Falcons failed to defend a ruck. De Beer, who would
achieve notoriety a few months later when his five drop goals
booted England out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarter-final,
converted from the touchline for a 7-0 lead.
discipline and a string of penalties set up an attacking lineout
from which Peter Walton drove over, with Wilkinson again
converting before kicking another penalty to extend the lead to
31-20.
With the game safe, Wilkinson showed that it was not all about
the boot when he profited from a superb chip-and-chase from
Legg, with support from lock Garath Archer to give the England
fly-half a walk-in. The Falcons’ final try, from flanker Jim Cartmell,
came deep into added time, with Wilkinson’s conversion giving
the final score a somewhat flattering look.
The Falcons’ team that day was: S.Legg; T.Underwood; M.Shaw;
R.Andrew; V.Tuigamala; J.Wilkinson; G.Armstrong; G.Graham;
R.Nesdale; M.Hurter; H.Vyvyan (rep. G.Archer;); D.Weir; R.Arnold;
J.Cartmell; R.Beattie.
Whilst the Falcon’s final eighth-place finish was disappointing,
the outcome for London Scottish was far worse. At the end of
the season after they finished 12th both they and Richmond,
who finished 9th, went into administration and were forced to
re-form as amateur clubs at the bottom of the league pyramid
from where, to their immense credit, they eventually worked
their way back to the Championship. Scottish currently reside
there, although Richmond have slipped back to National League
One.
George Graham
The Falcons’ response was immediate as George Graham took
advantage of a powerful break by Inga Tuigamala and crossed in
the corner, but Scottish gave as good as they got and restored
their seven-point lead when scrum-half Guy Easterby scored
and de Beer converted. Five minutes before the break the
Falcons scored their second try through full-back Stuart Legg
following a typical Gary Armstrong break. Wilkinson couldn’t
convert, but kicked a penalty following a dangerous tackle on
him by ex-West Hartlepool flanker Mick Watson.
De Beer and Wilkinson exchanged penalties early in the second
half before the Falcons finally took control. Try-scorer Graham
turned provider when his strong running won a penalty which
Wilkinson converted to give the Falcons the lead for the first
time at 21-20. Scottish by this stage had lost their
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
Mark Mayerhofler 49

Tom May
15 YEARS AGO – MARCH
27, 2009
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-10
LEICESTER TIGERS
The Falcons secured a notable scalp when they defeated
eventual champions Leicester in wet and blustery conditions in
front of 7,614 at Kingston Park.
Despite finishing the season in 10th place 2008-9 was a minor
triumph for the Falcons, who seemed odds-on for relegation
until a superb performance in round 13 in February saw them
triumph 35-2 at relegation rivals Bristol, turning their season
around as they embarked on a six-match winning run which
they have not matched since in the Premiership.
In the difficult conditions both sides managed just a single try
but the Falcons’ effort, from centre Tane Tu’ipulotu, in the 13th
minute was a thing of beauty. Winger John Rudd fielded a high ball
deep in his own half and set off on a typical bullocking run which
saw off the first tackler before he offloaded under pressure to
supporting full-back Alex Tait. Tait switched direction to feed
winger Tim Visser before hooker Matt Thompson and flanker
Brent Wilson took the ball into the Tigers’ 22, where a ruck was
set up in front of the posts. Quick ball saw the ball move right to
Tait who put Tu’ipulotu over in the corner.
Tom May, whose conversion to emergency fly-half had done
much to spark the mid-season revival, could not convert,
although his boot would eventually prove the difference
between the two sides.
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
May was the game’s stand-out player as he mixed deft kicking
from hand to set up field position with some clever running
which left the Tigers’ defence guessing. May’s first successful
penalty after 30 minutes from almost 50 metres out went over
via the crossbar to extend the lead to 8-0, and that became 11-0
just two minutes later when May dropped a long-range goal. The
Falcons’ first half dominance was completed when he kicked a
second penalty with the final play of the half.
50

The Tigers finally registered on the scoreboard in the 50th
minute with a penalty from former and future Falcon Toby Flood.
The Falcons continued to attack whenever possible and were
unlucky when Jamie Noon was held up over the line following
a Tu’ipulotu break. Whilst the introduction of Ben Youngs at
scrum-half seemed to invigorate Leicester they could not
breach the home side’s try line until the game’s final play, when
a handling error from the Falcons allowed Youngs in for a simple
score.
The teams that day were as follows:
Newcastle: A.Tait (rep. R.Miller 78); T.Visser; J.Noon; T.Tu’ipulotu;
J.Rudd; T.May; H.Charlton (rep. M.Young 45); J.Golding (rep.
D.Wilson 29); M.Thompson (rep. R.Vickers 51); C.Hayman;
G.Parling (rep. A.Perry 71); M.Sorenson (rep. P.Browne 78);
T.Swinson (rep. R.Winter 42); B.Wilson; P.Dowson (capt).
Leicester: G.Murphy; S.Hamilton (rep. J.Murphy 58); A.Erinle;
A.Mauger (rep. S.Vesty 73); A.Tuilagi; T.Flood; H.Ellis (rep.
B.Youngs 61); B.Stankovitch (rep. D.Cole 40); G.Chuter (rep.
Davies; M.Castrogiavanni; L.Deacon (rep. Hemingway 73); B.Kay;
T.Croft; B.Woods; M.Corry (capt) (rep. B.Pienaar 50).
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
51

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
15 YEARS AGO – MARCH
27, 2009
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 14-10
LEICESTER TIGERS
For the second successive season the Falcons took a game to
St James’ Park as a season which would end in relegation to the
Championship entered its 17th week.
Although adrift at the foot of the table the Falcons were locked
in a battle with Leicester Tigers and perennial strugglers
Worcester Warriors to avoid the dreaded last place, and the
Tigers had still to visit Kingston Park. Despite the home team’s
disappointing season they were still able to attract 27,284 to
the city centre home of the Magpies.
The match itself was a typically feisty affair involving the
Premiership’s two Northern sides. The visitors were the
dominant side in the first half and took a sixth-minute lead
through a try in the corner from rugby league convert Danny
Solomona following a break from scrum-half Faf de Klerk
and support from flanker Tom Curry. De Klerk converted and
extended the lead to 10-0 with a penalty on 14 minutes.
The Falcons eventually got off the mark on 17 minutes with
a penalty from scrum-half Sonatane Takulua, who would
eventually kick 17 points. He added a second on 32 minutes but
the Falcons were fortunate to go into the break with just a fourpoint
deficit after the TMO ruled that Byron McGuigan had been
held up over the line.
What was to prove the decisive score came just three minutes
into the second half. Sale were penalised and Ben Curry sinbinned
when a typical Sinoti Sinoti break was cut short when
the Shark’s flanker killed the ball in the resulting ruck. The
Falcons kicked to the corner and from the lineout drive fly-half
Toby Flood touched down. Takulua converted and the Falcons
had a lead they would not relinquish.
The momentum had now decidedly passed to the Falcons and
their dominance was rewarded by further penalties from the
Tongan scrum-half in the 47th 55th and 63rd minutes. A try in
the corner by McGuigan, superbly converted by de Klerk, was
little more than a consolation as the Falcons secured a third
successive win to keep their survival hopes alive.
longer.
The match was however overshadowed by an incident midway
through the first half when Sale hooker Rob Webber claimed
to the referee that he had been bitten by Falcons’ lock Calum
Green. The citing commissioner, Andy Blyth, a Northumbrian
whose career had involved spells at both clubs, went into the
Sale dressing room at half-time to photograph what appeared
to be a bite mark on Webber’s arm, and subsequently took a
witness statement which resulted in Green being cited and
required to appear before an RFU Disciplinary Panel. Calum
strongly denied the allegation.
There was little time to work on defending the case before the
hearing but a statement was obtained from a local doctor who
suggested that the photographic evidence, whilst consistent
with a bite, was not conclusive. The Panel decided that they
required evidence from someone with specialist medical
knowledge of bite marks and the case was adjourned for a
week. Given that a finding of guilt would have ruled Green out
for the remainder of the season and probably the start of the
following season a leading QC was engaged at some expense
to represent the player, whilst the club scoured the country in
search of someone with the required expertise.
A world-leading Professor of Oral Pathology and Forensic
Odontology with specialist expertise in the examination of
alleged bitemarks was located and sent all of the available
evidence, including the photographs taken by the citing
commissioner and others taken by the Sale team manager. He
produced a 23-page statement that concluded the injury to
Webber’s right forearm could not be classified as a bite mark,
and was consistent with the exculpatory account given by
Calum.
The RFU nevertheless declined to drop the case, and after a
lengthy further hearing at which the expert gave evidence, the
panel concluded that there was no case to answer and Calum
left ‘without a stain on his character’.
52

Scrum-half Sonatane Takulua
The Falcons’ team that day was as follows:
S.Hammersley; V.Goneva; C.Harris; J.Matavesi; S.Sinoti; T.Flood;
T.Takulua; S.Lockwood; G.McGuigan (rep. K.Cooper 68);
L.Mulipola (rep. D.Wilson 68); C.Green; A.Davidson; G.Graham;
J.Hardie; M.Wilson (capt.)(rep. C.Chick 73).
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
53

FIXTURES AND RESULTS
FIXTURES AND RESULTS
SEPTEMBER
PRC Sat Sep 9 Ampthill W 17-40
PRC FRI SEP 15 BEDFORD BLUES W 26-16
PRC FRI SEP 22 SALE SHARKS W 23-10
PRC Sat Sep 30 Leicester Tigers L 60-7
OCTOBER
PRC SUN OCT 8 CALDY W 66-13
GP Sat Oct 14 Bath L 34-26
GP FRI OCT 20 GLOUCESTER (L 14-18)
GP SUN OCT 29 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (L 14-16)
NOVEMBER
MARCH
F FRI MAR 8 Sale Sharks (W 28-31)
GP Sat Mar 23 Exeter Chiefs (L 25-16)
GP FRI MAR 29 LEICESTER TIGERS 7.45PM
APRIL
GP Sun Apr 21 Bristol Bears (3pm)
GP SUN APR 28 SALE SHARKS (3PM)
MAY
GP FRI MAY 10 BATH 7.45PM
GP Sat May 18 Gloucester 3.05pm
GP Sat Nov 4 Harlequins (L 40-12)
GP SUN NOV 12 SARACENS (L 50-12)
GP Fri Nov 17 Sale Sharks (L 40-22)
GP SUN NOV 26 EXETER CHIEFS (L 14-20)
DECEMBER
GP Sun Dec 3 Leicester Tigers (L 3-47)
ECC SUN DEC 10 MONTPELLIER (L 19-24)
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
54
ECC Sat Dec 16 Emirates Lions (L 35-13)
GP FRI DEC 22 BRISTOL BEARS (L 13-21)
GP Sat Dec 30 Saracens (L 19-37)
JANUARY
GP FRI JAN 5 HARLEQUINS (L 3-24)
ECC FRI JAN 12 BENETTON RUGBY (L 18-57)
ECC Sun Jan 21 Perpignan (W 23-32)
GP Sat Jan 27 Northampton Saints (L 38-13)
TICKETS:
0191 214 2800
KEY: GP = Gallagher Premiership, ECC = EPCR Challenge Cup, PRC = Premiership Rugby Cup, F = Friendly.
(Home games in capital letters)
NEXT TIME
AT KP
V SALE SHARKS
SUN APRIL 28th
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Kick-off: 15:00

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Develop your rugby skills with players and coaches
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For more info visit WWW.RUGBYCAMPS.COM

BY MARK SMITH - NEWCASTLE FALCONS MEDIA MANAGER
The American author Mark Twain famously
hypothesised there are three kinds of lies: lies,
damned lies and statistics.
stand still you fall behind. The management at the Falcons
seem to understand this and are backing us in
our efforts to get the word out there.
Even accounting for the fact that 17.3% of
statistics are made up, I was recently asked by a
member of our commercial team to pull together
some numbers on our social media. They were
talking to some sponsors and wanted to show
them what they’d be getting for their money,
but it was illuminating nonetheless to see
the figures in black and white.
Over the course of the last two years our
social media following grew by 19.7%,
with engagement up by 25% and video
views up by 846%.
Narrowing the focus down to
the past year, our following has
grown by more than 9% and
engagement is up by more
than 7%, with video views
rising by more than 40%.
Video views on Facebook
alone were up by 41%, and on
Instagram that number rose
to 78%.
Even on LinkedIn, from an admittedly low base
but hitting a great audience for us in the business
community, we saw engagement up by 84% and
video views rising by a massive 1,718%
A major part of this is the club’s increased investment
in and commitment to our digital presence, with
more resource devoted to graphic design and video
production. I certainly won’t claim all the credit because
a lot of the work has been done by other people, but it all
feeds into the same pattern around the club opening its
doors and letting people in.
You won’t need me to tell you the sports market is
changing. Competition for eyeballs is ever fiercer, and
if you
Steve Diamond, by his own admission, is a
bit of a showman, and when he held his first
press conference following his appointment last
month he spent more than two hours making
sure every newspaper, TV channel and
radio station got every single thing they
needed from him.
Normally when a team are losing
games the tendency is for players
to clam up and avoid the spotlight,
but I can’t fault any of the Falcons
boys for shying away from the
camera. They all get it, and they
know how important it is for
us to connect with current and
potential supporters.
Earlier in the season one of the country’s
top rugby writers rattled a few cages
when he went on twitter and picked out
three clubs for having exceptionally open
and pro-active relationships with the media.
It was gratifying to see Newcastle Falcons
named as one of the three ‘gold star’ clubs,
and without wishing to go over old ground,
it’s fair to say that hasn’t always been the case.
Ticket sales have gone up despite on-field
results not being where we would all like them
to be, and the early figures from the launch of
2024-25 season tickets are remarkable, really,
considering the narrative around results and
players leaving.
They used to say in sport, there’s only one
statistic that counts.
I’m not so sure that’s true anymore.
FROM THE PRESS BOX - WITH MARK SMITH
Steve Diamond
57

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IN OPPOSITION
LEICESTER TIGERS
NICKNAME
Tigers
FOUNDED
1880
HOME GROUND
Mattioli Woods Welford Road
HEAD COACH
Dan McKellar
CAPTAIN
Julián Montoya
Leicester Tigers arrive at Kingston Park no doubt keen to
erase the memory of last season’s 45-26 defeat at the same
venue, when a Mateo Carreras hat-trick consigned the
then-champions to an emphatic defeat.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, of course,
not least a summer rebuild which sees Leicester’s squad under
new management.
Steve Borthwick’s mid-season move to England last year had
seen a temporary fix with Richard Wigglesworth put in charge,
but with the former scrum-half now also on the national team
staff the Tigers are now led by Australian Dan McKellar.
The former Brumbies and Wallabies coach has presided over
a squad refresh which saw a number of players moving on,
including Premiership record try-scorer Chris Ashton, former
Falcons fly-half Jimmy Gopperth, ex-Newcastle lock Calum
Green and Aussie centre Harry Potter.
Incomings were also plentiful both in quantity and quality,
with the off-season influx including the likes of London Irish
pair Ollie Hassell-Collins and Matt Rogerson, Harlequins wing
Josh Bassett, ex-Worcester utility back Jamie Shillcock,
Exeter centre Solomone Kata and La Rochelle back-rower Kyle
Hatherell.
The early-season rounds saw Leicester winning their first four
Premiership Rugby Cup encounters, beating Caldy, Ampthill
and Newcastle at home, and Sale Sharks away, before losing
away at Bedford Blues. That secured them a semi-final away
to Ealing, which they won, with their recent final away to
Gloucester seeing them defeated by the Cherry and Whites.

ABOVE LEFT
WORLD CUP WINNER
JASPER WIESE
ABOVE
WALES FLANKER
TOMMY REFFELL
LEFT
ENGLAND FULL-BACK
FREDDIE STEWARD
The start of the Gallagher Premiership campaign had the Tigers
battling on without their sizeable Rugby World Cup contingent,
comprised of England’s Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, George Martin,
Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs, Argentina hooker Julian
Montoya, Tonga’s Solomone Kata, Wales flanker Tommy Reffell
and South Africa’s World-Cup-winning No.8 Jasper Wiese.
McKellar’s men won just one of their opening five games in the
competition, beaten 25-14 at Bristol on opening night, then 17-
24 at home to Sale Sharks before breaking their duck in round
three with a last-minute 24-25 away win over Bath.
That was followed by a 32-17 loss at Stone X Stadium as
Saracens took the points in the capital, and Harlequins were
25-29 winners at Mattioli Woods Welford Road before a 26-17
derby-day win over Northampton Saints.
That sparked a run of five straight victories as Leicester
beat Gloucester (20-38), Newcastle Falcons (47-3), Stormers
(35-26) and Stade Francais (24-27) – a streak which was only
halted two days before Christmas by their 29-10 reverse at
Exeter Chiefs.
Tigers ended 2023 with a New Year’s Eve victory at home
to Bath (35-22), and maintained winning ways by beating
Saracens at home (19-10) in their first fixture of 2024.
A pair of humbling games in the Champions Cup saw them
second-best to European powerhouses, losing 45-12 away to La
Rochelle and then 10-27 to Leinster, but they squeezed through
to the round of 16 and will travel to Dublin next month in their
quest for a quarter-final place, once again taking on Leinster.
The return to league action saw them edging a 19-20 away win
at Harlequins, and following the international break Leicester
recorded a last-minute home loss over Gloucester coming into
this evening’s fixture.
IN OPPOSITION - LEICESTER TIGERS
63

DAN COLE
prop
THREE TO
WATCH
HEAD COACH
DAN MCKELLAR
Dan McKellar is in his first season at Leicester Tigers, having joined
the Welford Road outfit after a spell as assistant coach with the
Australian national team.
McKellar has also served as head coach with Super Rugby side the
Brumbies, whom he helped to win the inaugural Super Rugby AU
competition in 2020.
A former prop for Souths Rugby Club and Queensland Reds, McKellar’s
previous coaching experience saw him with Japanese side NTT Docomo
Red Hurricanes and Canberra University Vikings.
The evergreen prop-forward has played more than 300 games
for Leicester Tigers having come through the academy of his
home town club, making his first team debut back in 2007.
Winning his first two Premiership titles in 2009 and 2010, the
no-nonsense scrummager is a firm fixture in the Tigers pack,
quietly getting through his work.
Capped over 100 timed by England, whom he has helped to a
Grand Slam, Cole has also toured twice with the British & Irish
Lions and continues to be a hugely influential presence for
club and country.

HANRO LIEBENBERG
back-row
HANDRE POLLARD
Fly-Half
The South African back-rower has forged a hard-earned
reputation as a dominant force in the tight and loose, having
joined Leicester Tigers in 2019.
Born in Cape Town and now aged 28, Liebenberg stands at 6
foo 6 and 110kg, playing predominantly on the blind-side flank
but able to operate in the second row.
A former South Africa Under-20s captain, Liebenberg played
the majority of his rugby for the Bulls before heading to
Europe, spending two months with Stade Francais prior to
joining Leicester Tigers.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner is in his second season
with Leicester Tigers, having been a flagship signing for the
East Midland outfit.
Having turned 30 a fortnight ago, Pollard was a junior at Western
Province before moving to the Bulls in his native South
Africa, starring for the national side at U20s level.
Pollard transferred his form onto the Super Rugby stage,
spending five seasons in Pretoria before a moving to French
club Montpellier, from where he signed for the Tigers.
IN OPPOSITION - LEICESTER TIGERS
67

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
2023-24 HOSPITALITY
PACKAGES
Discover
We have several great packages available including
everything from a full five course meal or a cook to
order pod to delicious street food there’s something
for everyone to enjoy at our match days with pricing
starting from £65 plus VAT per adult and £35 plus VAT per
U18. Scan the QR or visit www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/
tickets-and-hospitality/hospitality to find out more.
All our hospitality bookings are handled by our commercial
team. To book or request additional details please contact
the team by emailing
corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
or call them on 0191 214 2892.
SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE

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Mark
WILSON
Q&A
We caught up with Newcastle Falcons legend Mark Wilson, who
played 237 games for the club in a remarkable career which also
brought 23 England caps and an appearance in a Rugby World Cup
final. The hard-hitting flanker discussed life after rugby, Steve
Diamond, Leicester Tigers and his new business venture.
Q: Having retired from professional rugby you’ve opened up your own
gym and training centre, No.6 Performance, in Ryton. Is that something
you’d been thinking about for a while?
Mark Wilson: It’s something I’d wanted to do for quite a few years,
yeah. I’d always been passionate about fitness, obviously with playing
professional rugby, but just keeping myself in good shape generally
alongside that. It’s been at the forefront of my life for a long time, and
I want to pass on the experience and the knowledge I’ve picked up
along the way. I’ve been really lucky to be coached by some world class
strength and conditioning coaches which has helped build up my own
knowledge, and I’m keen to pass that on to people who haven’t had
that experience, giving them some really simple structures to stick to.
Q&A - MARK WILSON
71

Q: So how does your programme actually work? It
doesn’t look like the kind of gym where you sit on a bike
for 20 minutes and gently pedal away while listening to
a podcast.
MW: No, it’s a small-group personal training business at
a gym I’ve had built on the site of Ryton rugby club. It’s
basically giving people personal programmes but coming
and training in a group atmosphere, with the largest
groups being from 6 to 8 people. I’ve always found I
get the best out of myself when I’m training with other
people, whether it’s the camaraderie, motivation or that
little element of competition. It brought an extra 10-20%
out of me, and even the most dedicated athletes in the
world will enjoy better results when they’re not training
on their own. What’s been really nice is seeing the
development of a little community here, and people don’t
want to miss out on the sessions. We have a nice little
6am club, and it seems to be working for people.
Q: Having spent so long working in professional rugby
as a player and then a coach, how have you found the
transition?
MW: It’s been really good. It’s still challenging, just in
different ways, but it’s a lot of fun. I enjoy the coaching
element and the day-to-day running of the place, and
just the variety of people that you’re dealing with. I’m
passionate about health and fitness, I live by these
principles anyway and it’s been great sharing that
with people from all different walks of life. Running a
business, how to sell, market and all the rest of it, has
been an education, but the overall thing has been class
and I’m enjoying this new chapter of my life.
Q: You’re still fairly early into the business, but what
sorts of lessons have you picked up so far?
MW: Having had so long within rugby I’ve got certain
things ingrained into me, so it’s about making sure I run
a really professional environment when people come in.
That’s making sure everything’s prepared, nothing is left
to the last minute, there’s genuine thought behind each
person’s programme, making sure the place is clean and
tidy and basically giving a professional set-up to people
who aren’t professional athletes. That’s what I want
to maintain, and regardless of what job you do – joiner,
solicitor or whatever – when you come through that door
you’ve got an hour where you’re treated like a professional
athlete. They seem to have enjoyed it so far and
I’m getting a lot out of coaching such a variety of people.
Q: What type of coach are you, because you can’t
threaten to drop these guys from the team or rip up
their contracts!?
MW: It definitely tests your man management, but in a
good way. I love the variety, but I guess that’s also the
same within a rugby squad. You have so many different
characters who tick in their own individual ways, so it’s
that same balance of having to drive some guys on a
bit more, encourage in different ways, or in some cases
bring them back when they’re wanting to push too hard.
Q: How do you see it progressing?
MW: I want to keep developing the business and move
it forward, and we’ve had some unbelievable results
recently. We’ve got a medical-grade body composition
scanner which gives you a full analysis and loads of
measurable indicators to track your progress, and the
difference we’ve seen there has been great. People are
improving their lives and overall health, but away from
the hi-tech side of things it’s just those little markers
around improving people’s general athleticism, like
somebody doing their first ever pull-up or press-up.
Those kinds of things are just as rewarding as someone
saying they’ve lost X kilos or have got X amount of
muscle, and it’s a nice feeling to help people.
Q: How does life as a business owner differ from your
time in professional rugby?
MW: With me it’s probably some of the same traits, to be
honest, because I’m somebody who can put too much
focus on things. I’ve got to make sure I don’t neglect the
family too much, because at the end of the day I’m a dad
and a husband, so it’s finding that balance of trying to
push the business forward while playing a proper part in
my family life.
Q: Your gym is on the site of Ryton rugby club, where
you’re also doing some coaching. How has that been
going?
MW: Yeah, I really enjoy it. Ryton is a great club and it’s
fantastic having my gym right next to them and getting
involved with the coaching there. Rugby has always been
a big part of my life and I never wanted to completely
detach from the game, so it’s a nice way to have the
fun and the hard work of the sport without some of the
baggage or stress of the professional side. I’ve been welcomed
to this club since day one, I started helping out

Q: You mention Steve Diamond,
you of course worked with him
during your season at Sale
Sharks. How does he operate
and what sort of impact do
you think he will have with the
Falcons?
more than two years ago with bits of coaching and I feel
like I’m part of the club now. They’re really nice people
and I’ve made some lifelong friends, and it’s amazing
how good they’ve been with me.
On the rugby side, we play at level seven, and it’s
good fun. The biggest thing for me sometimes is just
remembering these lads don’t get paid – they’re doing it
because it’s their hobby – and it’s keeping the enjoyment
factor high. If one of your best players has got a holiday
booked then you can’t do anything about it, and if a stag
do means half your team is missing for an important
game, that’s just how it is. But overall, they’ve been
brilliant. We got promoted last season, we started well
this season then tailed off a little around Christmas, but
we’re in our best position for 19 years and I’m proud of
the lads to have achieved that.
Q: Newcastle Falcons have been a big part of your life
for a lot of years, do you still keep an eye on the club?
MW: Yeah, absolutely. I haven’t watched as many games
as I would have liked, mainly just due to coaching on
weekends, running my business and family stuff on days
off, but of course I follow the Falcons and watch bits of
their games when I can. It’s great to see Scotty MacLeod
brought back in, I’ve got a lot of time for Steve Diamond
as well and I think like all Falcons supporters I just want
to see the club do well.
MW: I really enjoyed working
with Dimes, and I loved his
honesty. He’s straight to the
point, doesn’t mess about
and he likes to motivate
the lads. He’s proud to be
a northerner, which I think
we’ve probably missed,
and I imagine he’ll really
get hold of a group of key
senior players. He’ll say
‘follow me’ and get some
real northern grit back
into the team, and without
me obviously having been in at the club over the past
eight or nine months to see it close up with my own
eyes, it seems like that’s what they need.
Q: We’re up against Leicester Tigers today, have you
got any stand-out memories from playing against them
over the years?
MW: I guess the obvious one would be 2018 when we
won at Welford Road with a last-minute try and booked a
place in the Premiership semi-finals. I’ve still got a clip on
my phone of the celebrations when Tane Takulua kicked
the winner and we all piled onto him, so that was a great
memory. The other one I remember is a home game a
couple of years earlier when Adam Powell had a stormer.
He was salivating in the team huddle before kick-off
and he absolutely smashed it that night, and I’ve had
some really good memories against Leicester. Hopefully
the lads can get the job done this evening and send
everyone home happy.
To find out more about
Mark Wilson’s No.6
Performance business,
visit
www.no6-performance.co.uk

TEAM OF
THE MONTH
AWARDS
The ladies of Berwick Diamonds (pictured) take December’s
Team of the Month award after winning the Aspiring League,
a ten-team tournament with six rounds at Livingston,
Berwick, Lasswade, Gala, Dalkeith and Creiff from September
to November, on finals day at Heriot Watt University.
The Ladies have only been playing contact rugby for two years
and have made huge strides in their development over that
time, with the youngest member of the squad being the first
girl from the youth section to play for the Ladies.
Northern hit a 15-game club record winning run in Regional 2
North to make the January Team of the Month’s award an easy
decision for the voting panel. They beat the previous record of
13 consecutive wins by the 1987-88 team captained by Andre
James, scoring 24 tries in the four games played.
Well done to both teams!
ALL CREATURES
GREAT AND SMALL
Following the huge success of the Vets programme initiated by
Simon Cox of Morpeth (who won one of Northumberland RFU’s
prestige Value the Volunteer Awards for his efforts) a Vets Cup
Competition has been set up which mirrors the Friday Night
Lights Vets games.
NRU is therefore delighted to announce that the NRU Vets
Vets County Cup Competition will be held tonight (Good Friday)
at North Shields RFC, where the first-round matches will be:
Morpeth Ranters v Novos
Percy Park v WB Rockliff
North Shields v Blyth Buccaneers
Ashington Colliers v Ponteland
Individual Vets (aged 35 and over) from other Northumberland
clubs are very welcome to join in too, and will be allocated
to squads to fill in positional gaps as needed. Please let the
organisers know in advance via the North East Vets Rugby
Facebook Page.
It should be a great bank holiday rugby afternoon. All
supporters are welcome to come and support.
RAVENS HAVE MUCH
TO CROW ABOUT
Congratulations to Newcastle Ravens RFC who ran a hugely
successful Hadrian Tournament at Percy Park RFC once again,
with teams from all corners of the UK and a few from even
further afield competing for silverware.
The inclement (to put it mildly) weather didn’t stop over
750 men and women playing contact and touch rugby, with
supporters also enjoying a great day of competitive rugby in
the largest LGBTQ+ inclusive tournament in Europe.
Newcastle Ravens RFC was founded on May 1 2006 with the
aim to encourage LGBTQ+ people to take part in sport. They
have played their home matches at Percy Park in North Shields
since 2014.
NORTHUMBERLAND RUGBY UNION
75

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Another team
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Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital
We’ve been providing outstanding private healthcare to people in the
North East for over 40 years. You can trust our team of dedicated experts
who offer a wide range of treatments including:
• Hip and knee surgery
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• Men’s health – bladder and prostate
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To find out more call 0808 149 3239
or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/newcastle-upon-tyne

SUSTAINABILITY AT NEWCASTLE RUGBY LIMITED:
Championing the Future of Sport and the Planet
At Newcastle Rugby Limited, we are committed to driving sustainability in the world of
sports and entertainment. Our vision extends beyond the thrill of the game, focusing
on the long-term well-being of our planet, our community, and future generations.
Here are our key messages on sustainability:
1. Greening the Game:
We are actively reducing our carbon footprint through energy-efficient
technologies and renewable energy sources. From LED floodlighting to future
planning for solar panels, we’re dedicated to minimising our impact on the
environment.
2. Waste Reduction:
We’re tackling waste head-on by implementing recycling programs, reducing
single-use plastics, and encouraging fans to join us on our journey. Together,
we aim to create a cleaner, greener stadium experience.
3. Food Waste:
We have reduced our food waste and all our products are UK sourced.
Ultimately, locally sourced food products policy reflects a commitment to
fostering local economies, reducing environmental impact, and providing
consumers with fresh and high-quality food options. It can also be tailored
to the specific goals and circumstances of the organisation or community
implementing it.
4. Biodiversity and Green Spaces:
Our stadium isn’t just a venue; it’s a hub for nature. We’re nurturing green
spaces around the stadium, creating habitats for local wildlife, and enhancing
the overall quality of life in our neighbourhood.
5. Inclusivity and Accessibility:
We’re ensuring everyone can enjoy the excitement of our games by prioritising
accessibility and inclusivity in our stadium design. From accessible seating to
quiet break out spaces, we’re fostering an inclusive fan experience.
6. Future-Proofing Sport
Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s the future of sports and entertainment.
By adopting eco-friendly practices, we’re safeguarding the longevity of our
stadium and the sports we all love.
7. Inspiring Change:
Our Stadium is more than a venue; it’s a platform for positive change. We’re
committed to inspiring fans, partners, and the sports industry to embrace
sustainability and make a lasting impact.
Join us on this exciting journey towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can
make every game a win for both our teams and the planet. Newcastle Rugby Limited:
Where Passion Meets Sustainability.

GALLAGHER
PREMIERSHIP
PREVIEWS
TONIGHT
BELOW
NEWCASTLE HOOKER
JAMIE BLAMIRE
BELOW
NORTHAMPTON WING
OLLIE SLEIGHTHOLME
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
V LEICESTER TIGERS
Leicester Tigers’ three-game winning
run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended
with their 25-27 loss to Gloucester at
Mattioli Woods Welford Road last Friday.
Tigers’ away record in Premiership
Rugby this campaign is won three, lost
three. Leicester’s only defeat in their
last eight fixtures with Newcastle in
Premiership Rugby was 26-45 on their
most recent visit to Kingston Park in
January 2023.
The Tigers have lost on two of their
last three visits to Kingston Park in all
tournaments.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
V SARACENS
Northampton Saints’ six-game winning
run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby
ended with their 21-52 defeat at Bristol
last Friday. The Saints have lost just
once in competitive rugby at home this
season: 27-33 to Bristol in Round 2 of
Premiership Rugby.
Saracens’ only defeat in their last four
Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures
was 10-19 at Leicester on January 6.
Saracens are yet to win away from
home in any competition in 2024. Their
most recent away success was at
Harlequins on November 18.
The last four encounters between the
two clubs have been evenly shared,
with two wins each. The Saints beat
Saracens 38-29 the last time the clubs
met at Franklin’s Gardens in
Premiership Rugby last April to end a
six-game winning run by Saracens.

TOMORROW
BELOW
GLOUCESTER BACK-ROWER
RUAN ACKERMANN
BELOW
HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF
DANNY CARE
SUNDAY
BELOW
EXETER LOCK
DAFYDD JENKINS
GLOUCESTER V
BRISTOL BEARS
Gloucester Rugby have won their last six
fixtures in all tournaments since their
10-17 slip-up at Bath in Round 11 of Gallagher
Premiership Rugby.
Gloucester have not been defeated at Kingsholm
in any competition since Northampton
were the visitors in Premiership Rugby on
December 23.
Bristol Bears’ only loss in their last six Gallagher
Premiership Rugby matches was 14-24 to
Exeter at Ashton Gate on December 29.
The Bears have won their last two away games
in Premiership Rugby and have not won three
in succession on their travels since 2021.
The last six meetings between the two clubs
in Premiership Rugby have all gone in favor of
home-field advantage whilst Bristol’s only two
victories at Kingsholm since 2006 both came
behind closed doors during the lockdown in
2020 and 2021.
HARLEQUINS
V BATH
Harlequins have lost their last two
Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches,
at home to Leicester and away at
Saracens and have not lost three in
a row in the tournament for over 12
months.
Harlequins have lost two of their last
three matches at the Twickenham
Stoop in Premiership Rugby.
Bath Rugby’s last eight fixtures in
Premiership Rugby have all been won by
the home side on the day. Bath have not
won away from home in Premiership
Rugby since their visit to Gloucester on
November 10.
Bath have won three of their last four
matches against Harlequins but have
been victorious at the Twickenham
Stoop only twice since 2015: 37-32
in September 2018 and 41-27 in
September 2020.
SALE SHARKS
V EXETER CHIEFS
Sale Sharks have lost their last six
competition fixtures their worst run
since 2017. The Sharks lost their most
recent Premiership Rugby match
at Salford City Stadium to Bristol
in early January to end a run of 12
successive victories at the venue in the
tournament.
The Sharks have not lost successive
home games at the venue in
Premiership Rugby since 2017.
Exeter Chiefs have won three of their
last five Premiership Rugby matches
whilst away from home they have won
just twice in the tournament since
October 2022, at Newcastle in Round 7
and at Bristol in Round 12.
Exeter’s only defeat in their last seven
encounters with Sale in Premiership
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP PREVIEWS
81

CLUB NEWS
SUPPORTERS’ CLUB
TRAVEL
In the 2023-24 season so far, the Newcastle Falcons
Supporters’ Club has run coaches to the Leicester Tigers and
Northampton Saints away games, and will be heading down to
Gloucester.
Travelling supporters had a fantastic time despite the early
starts and results on the pitch, but it’s a great chance to leave
the car at home, have a drink – responsibly, of course – and
follow the team as they travel around the country.
The Supporters’ Club ensures that there’s a comfortable coach
and some great drivers to take fans to and from the match.
They can even collect you at either Washington Services or
Scotch Corner if that would save you travelling all the way to
Kingston Park to get on the coach.
There’s time before the game for food, drink and taking in the
atmosphere, and afterwards to perhaps catch a word with the
players to celebrate/commiserate as appropriate! This is a
really important part of being a supporter.
On the return journey from Northampton the coach happened
to stop at Woodall Services at the same time as the players’
coach - honestly a coincidence!
At the services fans were able to chat with a number of players
and staff including Micky Ward, Adam Radwan and Murray
McCallum, who were “all lovely, happy to talk and grateful to
us for making the journey to support the team,” according to
those who were there.
The Supporters’ Club encourage you to join them when they go
to Gloucester for the last match of the season on Saturday May
18. You will be made most welcome.
Come and find out more about the Supporters’ Club in the
West Stand concourse bar before tonight’s game, or visit www.
newcastlefsc.co.uk.
HOWAY THE LASSES
Newcastle United Women host Liverpool Feds Women’s Football
Club in the FA Women’s National League this Sunday. The game
kicks off at 2pm, with tickets available to purchase online via
the Falcons’ club website or on the gate. Adults can gain entry
for just £5, with concessionary pricing also available for just £1.
Parking is available at the stadium priced at £5.
HEARLE HEADS NORTH
Premiership Rugby Cup winner Alex Hearle will join Newcastle
Falcons in the summer, having agreed a two-year deal to join
from Gloucester.
The 25-year-old can play at wing or centre and will be re-united
with consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond, under whom
he worked at Worcester Warriors.
Standing at 6 foot 1 (1.85m) and weighing 15 stone 2 (96kg),
the Shrewsbury College old boy started for Gloucester in their
Premiership Rugby Cup final triumph over Leicester Tigers,
having come through Worcester’s academy system before
making his Gallagher Premiership debut for the Warriors in
2020.
Hearle played 37 games for Worcester prior to their
administration and was quickly snapped up by Gloucester, for
whom he has so far played on 18 occasions.
“I can’t wait to play under Dimes again,” said the three-quarter,
relishing the prospect of working with his former boss.
“I had a great experience with him at Worcester Warriors
before the unfortunate end to that period, and I love the type
of environment he creates.”

QUIZ
Test your knowledge on all
things rugby with our ten-question
teaser. Answers are upside
down at the bottom of the page.
Q1 Which Newcastle Falcons lock is a
former Leicester Tigers player?
Q2 Which former Leicester Tigers and
Newcastle Falcons star is pictured here?
Q6 ‘A Damn Award’ is an anagram of
which Newcastle Falcons player’s name?
Q7 Which Newcastle Falcons player is
pictured here?
Q3 Who scored a hat-trick for Newcastle
Falcons in last season’s 45-26 home win
over Leicester Tigers?
Q4 True or false, Newcastle Falcons
centre Matias Moroni has competed in the
Olympic Games?
Q5 Gonzalo Quesada is the head coach of
which country’s national team?
Q8 Which club do Newcastle Falcons play
against on the final day of this season?
Q9 Who are the reigning champions of
the United Rugby Championship?
Q10 Next weekend sees which event on
the HSBC World Sevens Series calendar?
QUIZ
84
ANSWERS: 1 Sebastian de Chaves, 2 Tim Stimpson, 3 Mateo Carreras, 4 True, 5 Italy, 6 Adam Radwan,
7 Adam Brocklebank, 8 Gloucester, 9 Munster, 10 Hong Kong Sevens.

Photo from The Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2023
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