Newcastle Falcons vs Exeter Chiefs Programme

Convinced that a first league win of the season is within their
grasp, he says: “There are such good foundations here and
we’ve been so close in quite a few of our games. I feel like
we’re really close to it all clicking, and I wouldn’t be hitting the
panic button even though the results have been tough in the
league.
“I know a lot of the external noise is negative whenever you’re
not winning, and that’s just the nature of professional sport.
You have to learn to block out a lot of those voices, although
one thing I will say is that the Falcons supporters get right
behind the team.
wasn’t my best performance, and the coach Danny Wilson
gave me a kick up the backside after the game. He said I was
going to play again the week after but that it was a close call
between me and another player, so I basically had a friendly
against Worcester to prove myself. I played one of the best
games I’d had in a while, and two weeks later Worcester signed
me.”
“You do see the odd comment and it is what it is, but on the
whole I think our fans are sticking with the team and playing
every part they can in helping us to take that next step
towards converting pressure into wins. The lads massively
appreciate that encouragement, because the easiest thing in
the world would be to sit there and be negative.
“The reality is we’ve got a lot of new players this season and
we’re making some pretty fundamental changes to how we
play the game – and that takes time. It’s not always what
people want to hear, but we’re spending time together and
putting in the work needed to improve our fortunes.”
PLAYER INTERVEIW - MURRAY MCCALLUM
Part of the squad who were left without a job following
Worcester’s disappearance from the rugby pyramid, McCallum
explains: “Everyone knows how it ended up at Worcester, but
it was eventful from the start. In the first week I moved down
there my partner Lorna found out she was pregnant, and then
the head coach who signed me – Jonathan Thomas – parted
ways with the club.
“Steve Diamond came in with a pretty fearsome reputation but
I actually liked him and built up a good relationship, and ended
up playing quite a bit during the back half of that 2021-22
season.
“We had a pretty turbulent summer with all of the financial
problems that were going on behind the scenes, and although
it was a few months before it came into the public domain
there were alarm bells ringing when things started to happen
like Wattbikes being repossessed from the club gym, and
academy players being kicked out of their club house.
“We pretty much knew what was coming but it was still
tough when it eventually did, because there were so many
great people in and around the club. The staff, families and
supporters were honestly incredible, and everyone pulled
together.
“Lorna and I had had our baby in the August and the club
went bust in the first week of October, with the last game
being against Newcastle. We had a big win that day and I
think we would have beaten any team in the country, because
we basically knew it was our last ever game as Worcester
Warriors. Even when the Falcons scored in the first few
minutes we got back into a huddle on halfway and were
like ‘we are NOT losing this game’, and we came back with a
massive final performance.
“The team social that night was epic with all the staff
and supporters getting involved, and as much as it was a
desperately sad situation it was at least good to finish on a
positive.
“I was in limbo, not
knowing what was
going on.”
“From there I was just in limbo, and I had a few months of not
knowing what was going on – always on the phone, on twitter,
trying to find out what was happening. I ended up touring with
the Barbarians which was a great experience, and I went on a
trial in January with Montauban out in France. I was out there
when Edinburgh called me, and they had a game out in Castres
so I just met them there and flew back with them afterwards.
“I finished the season with Edinburgh, and it was great to have
that degree of stability and be closer to home after what we’d
been through, and my partner was still on maternity leave with
our daughter, Marnie.”
Delighted to get picked up by the Falcons, the affable
scrummager insists he is loving life on Tyneside.
“I was absolutely buzzing when I knew there was interest from
Newcastle, because the club were always way up on my list
in terms of places I wanted to play. I knew it was a great club
with loads of links to Scottish players, it was close to home for
our wider family and also my partner had been to university
in Newcastle. I already knew a couple of boys who were at
the Falcons, and as soon as it became a possibility I was really
excited.”
Keen to form part of a bumper atmosphere this afternoon
which includes input from the renowned ‘Wor Flags’ group, he
adds: “I love busy crowds and high-pressure environments,
so everything going on with the flags and the push to get
supporters here is really welcome.
“We love seeing
fans getting
involved.”
“The squad have bought into it in terms of helping with the
promotion because we all know what a huge difference it can
make, and we love seeing fans getting involved. I’d like to thank
every supporter who is coming along to the Exeter game and
has faith in the lads, and hopefully the boys can put on a show
to reward everyone for the commitment they’re showing us.”
PLAYER INTERVEIW - MURRAY MCCALLUM
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