Newcastle Falcons Thread - Use Championship thread

[Geordie]

First topic message reminder :

A thread to keep an eye on the summer activities...still to find out if its premiership or championship.

Current Squad:

Forwards
Props:
Grant Shiels
Euan Murray
Ashley Wells
John Golding
Scott Wilson
James Hall - Has he left?
Oliver Tomasczyk

Hookers:
Matt Thompson
Rob Vickers
George McGuigan
Joe Graham
Michel Mayhew

Second Rows
Carlo Del Fava
Adriaan Fondse
james Hudson
Josh Beaumont
Scott MacLeod
Richard Boyle
Glen Townson

Back Row
Taisina Tui'Fua
Ally Hogg
Will Welch
Richard Mayhew
Mark Wilson
Adam Balding
Joe Robinson
Chris York

Backs
SH's
Rory Lawson
Jordi Pasqualin
Chris Pilgrim

Fh's
Joel Hodgson (Or will he move to SH)
Jimmy Gopperth
Tom Catterick
Waisea Luveniyali

Centres
Corne Ullys
Jamie Helleur
James Fitzpatrick
Luke Fielden
Tane Tu'ipulotu
Andrew Higgins
Alex Crocket
Michael Tait

Back 3
Greg Goosen
Kirbridge
Alex Tait
Ryan Shortland
Tom Bedford
Suka Hufanga
Ricki Sheriffe

Please who have left:
Will Chudley: Scrum Half Exeter
Tim Swinson: 6 / Second Row Glasgow Warriors
Andrew van der Heijden has confirmed he is returning back to New Zealand (Aukland)
James Goode is likely to head back to the Ospreys after the end of his loan deal
Peter Stringer will return back to Munster for next season.

[Geordie]

There's meant to be a biggie coming soon

Really?

Any ideas?

On a side note i see Joel Hodgson has been picked for the England 7's squad

[Sgt_Pooly]

Knowing us it'll be another lock

[Geordie]

Well at present we have:

Mcleod
Del Fava
Hudson
Boyle
Beaumont
Fondse

Van der Heijden - Gone
Goode - Gone

Do you see us starting Hudson and Del Fava?

EDIT:

And its almost confirmed that we have signed Michael Lipman. What do you think of that signing.

Good abrasive openside, experienced...will it help of Hinder Will Welchs progress?

[Sgt_Pooly]

Possibly, good combo. Not sure how Mcleod will shape up.

Looks like Lipman is coming in too.

[Geordie]

Yeah i just saw that Sarge...what do you think?

[Sgt_Pooly]

Great signing GF, he's always impressed me for the Rebels.

Although I really like Welch & Wilson they could get bullied as a unit.

6. Tu'uifa
7. Lipman
8. York

Would give most teams a game I imagine, with Welch learning some tricks from Lipman.

What do you think GF?

[Geordie]

Now that looks a pretty impressive back row...physical, ball carrying...aggression and breakdown skills.

I dont want to see Welch and Wilson going back ward though mate.

These are youngsters who have come through the academy and that is something the Falcons have prided themselves on...and these two in particular are real prospects playing well already.

Hopefully they will learn from Lipman etc.

Where do you see this leaving Hogg and Richard mayhew? Will they go?

[Driver]

I'll drive Richard Mayhew to his new club myself. I think Hogg will stick about as they'll be trying to build depth

[Sgt_Pooly]

Hogg is a good backup 6/8, Mayhew has been released has he not?

I totally agree about the youngsters but we relied on them too much last season. It'll do them no harm Richards bringing them in now and again or from the bench.

Pack is looking really impressive (hooker maybe?), still need a few backs.

[Cumbrian]

Depth is definitely a good thing. I was worried about the back-row going into last season, now I think we are developing enough depth to deal with injuries and be competitive. Regarding Lipman, Welch needs a the breathing space Lipman provides. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Will in the line up for every game. However, he played 27 games last season, which is really risking burnout to my mind.

[Geordie]

Ah i didnt realise Richard Mayhew had already gone...where?

On another note...i need to get my ass in gear and get my season ticket sorted...

[TrailApe]

"Newcastle Falcons confirm Peter Russell as head coach"

Looks like we are really setting up a good coaching team.


Have any of our Kiwis on this board a postion on Mr Russell?

[Sgt_Pooly]

http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/newcastle-falcons/2012/06/12/61634-31162122/

Steadman signs on as defence coach, to be followed by Wells by the sounds of it.

[chewed_mintie]

Peter Russell is/was the long term head coach of Hawkes Bay. Did very well a few years back, taking the Bay to 2-3 semi finals when they weren't expected to make it. Oversaw the development of players such as Zac Guildford, Israel Dagg etc.

Very good coach in my opinion, shrewd signing by Newcastle

[Geordie]

Im liking it....

[DaveM]

I can't claim any knowledge of the coach, but this feels like an excellent signing. Newcastle may even contribute some entertainment to the AP next season (assuming LW's appeal fails as I expect it to).

[Driver]

Guys,

Anyone got any advice on the Metro from the city centre to KP regarding costs?

I'm ordering my Season ticket at the end of the month and will probs get the train up and use the metro to get to KP if anyone can help.

[Jennifer1984]

Newcastle may even contribute some entertainment to the AP next season (assuming LW's appeal fails as I expect it to).

Newcastle contribute some entertainment to the AP...? Considering they shouldn't even be in it, that's rubbing salt into some pretty raw wounds.

I suppose they can get away with being the worst top flight team in the country all the time the Premiership is ringfenced, but then again, Newcastle have a history of getting away with iffy decisions. Steve Lander at Twickenham, against Harlequins springs to mind. Yes. I was there. I saw the travesty that was Falcon's cup win that season.

Then again, any club that has the connection of Rob "Squeaky" Andrew at the RFU is always going to be able to pull strings. London Welsh's appeal to fail..? You betcha it will.

.

[George Carlin]

Steadman is a very, very good defense coach and I'm not sure that he ever got enough credit for that. Scotland's big recent wins (especially against Australia and South Africa in in 2009) were built on the back of a kevlar defence.

[TrailApe]

Anyone got any advice on the Metro from the city centre to KP regarding costs?

It's about £3 or so - I'll mosey into town on my lunch break and check up for you - although the metro has installed new ticket machines which had me totally baffled last home game of the season.

And here's a tip - don't get off at Kingston Park - get off at Bank Foot - I think the distance to the ground is the same but its more straightforward - if you are like me and get lost in housing estates (and by using the Bank Foot station you get to 'go past' the Twin Farms)

[TrailApe]

Driver 606 rip

from zone A (Central Station, Monument and Haymarket) to Zone B (Kingston Park and Bankfoot) its £2.40 for single adult or £3.30 for a return - actually I think the return is more of an all day ticket, but I'm never sure of these things.

[Driver]

Cheers fella.

Will have to sort out a 606v2 Falcons fans match day pint for us all.

[Geordie]

Ill be there for that mate. Tickets from further afield...ie north shields zone 3 are 4.50 return...on an all day saver.

Looking forward to it...

[Driver]

Are the majority of games on a friday now aswell?

[TrailApe]

Are the majority of games on a friday now aswell?.

If they are my Liver might reject the rest of me.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Does anybody else travel up from south of the Tyne? Be good to get a car pool going

[Driver]

It's what i was thinking Pooly , I know there is a thread on the forum about one.

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/list/s95.htm?97,postmode=reply,postthread=13243734

[DaveM]

Newcastle contribute some entertainment to the AP...? Considering they shouldn't even be in it, that's rubbing salt into some pretty raw wounds.

Then again, any club that has the connection of Rob "Squeaky" Andrew at the RFU is always going to be able to pull strings. London Welsh's appeal to fail..? You betcha it will.

Newcastle were awful to watch last season, but will be better next. They are lucky they will stay up, but it's nice to see they might actually do something contructive with that luck. Personally I expect Worcester to finish bottom next season, but we'll see.

You can blame RA for lots of things, but not the coming failure of the LW appeal. They will fail because they haven't met standards which were set out some time ago for clubs which wished to enter the AP (rather than those already there).

[Cumbrian]

Well it looks like the search for another back-rower will continue, Michael Lipman has retired:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/lipman-quits-rebels-over-health-052818926.html

[formerly known as Sam]

Do Falcons really need more backrow options? Hogg, Welch, York is a decent backrow with Balding, Tui'Fua, Wilson as your backup option and the great Falcons prospect Robinson waiting in the wings after that.

[Geordie]

Do Falcons really need more backrow options? Hogg, Welch, York is a decent backrow with Balding, Tui'Fua, Wilson as your backup option and the great Falcons prospect Robinson waiting in the wings after that.

Players will fear the day he is unleashed on the world....

Personally i like the look of

6 Tui'Fua
7 Welch
8 York

Tuifua is just a monster...infact he need to learn to be a litte less heavy handed at times...but i think that combo would work very well.

[Sgt_Pooly]

That would be my choice too GF with Wilson or Hogg on when Tui'Fua has picked up a card (around the 12min mark)

See a few friendly games have been announced, think I may make the Edinburgh one.

[Geordie]

This should be good...:
A triple header will take place at the club on the 8th August
1pm ) Doncaster Knights v A Falcons XV
3pm) Consett v Chicago based Illinois Tornados (ironic after yesterdays weather)
5.30) Leeds v A Falcons XV

Edinburgh on Friday 17 August (kick-off 7.45pm).

Ulster away on Friday 24 (kick-off 7.30pm).Deanos first game in charge

AND !!!!!

Sunday 8th July
Dont forget the annual Touch Rugby comp on the Longsands beach in tynemouth. Crackin day...all the Falcons usually turn up. Ive played a few years and its a right laugh loads watching.

Usuallly a few England players there aswell.

[Geordie]

Do any of my fellow falcons think it will greatly affect our playing staff. Will there be any leavers now. I dont think there will be. Deano is still a big pull, and despite the club going down I think it could be one step back several forward. We'll be back next season....probably at the expense of London (well oxford) Welsh.

[Driver]

I don't think it will. Deano is a big pull as is regular gametime

I'm game for Edinburgh game if you driving through Pooly. Off on Friday nights now so I'm 99% going to buy a season ticket

[ChequeredJersey]

Don't let it worry you too much guys. In 4-5 years you'll be doing better than ever

[Driver]

See van der Heijden has signed to play for Auckland Blues. Best of luck to the lad. Not much more than a big hitter mind.....

[yappysnap]

Best of luck Falcons. At least you'll get plenty of practice scoring next season.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Hope there's a rosy lining in this daft decision for the Falcons and that a year of regrouping will do you the world of good

[Cumbrian]

Gutted. But the decision has been made and there is nowt for it. Let's hope that the club can get back on track and lay some proper ground work for the future. What is it that Arnie said? 'I'll (we'll) be back'

[Cumbrian]

Do any of my fellow falcons think it will greatly affect our playing staff. Will there be any leavers now. I dont think there will be. Deano is still a big pull, and despite the club going down I think it could be one step back several forward. We'll be back next season....probably at the expense of London (well oxford) Welsh.

I think people at the club will have know the craic and had a good idea that there was a chance we'd be relegated, so I think if anybody was going to leave they would have done it by now.

[Driver]

I honestly think this could be a blessing is disguise , we might even have a few 50 point wins for once!

Does anyone know what days the fixtures will be? I know that if we were in prem it was Fridays but not sure now we're in the Championship?

[Driver]

Also what do people want to see as our team/

1.Shiells
2.Graham
3.Tomas
4.Del Fava
5.Hudson
6.Tui'Fua
7.Welch (C)
8.Wilson

9.Lawson
10.Catterick
11.Higgens
12.Tui'polatapu
13.Fitzpatrick
14.Suka Hufanga
15.Goppereth

[Geordie]

Think thats pretty much the team mate...id like to see what Hodgson will do this season...will they look to keep him as a FH or move him to SH? It depends on how his conditioning goes i guess...he's not the biggest....and he's also been signed up for the England 7's tour this season.....

[Driver]

I think Hodgson will spend most of the year playing 7s most of next season tbh , be a shame if he doesn't bulk up enough to make an impact in the 15 a side code.

Joe Robinson to come from the bench will smash teams into next week as well!

[Geordie]

Oh Yes...Big Joe will be unleashed...just feed him raw meat and let him loose....

[Cumbrian]

I was reading an interview on the Chronicle website where Deano and James Fitzpatrick were talking about picking local lads more next year. Maybe they'll try and have a look at players from Blaydon, Tyndale, Westoe etc?

[Cumbrian]

Just looking on the Blaydon website, what about this lad?

http://www.blaydonrfc.co.uk/rugby/1stxv/profiles.php?playerid=32

http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/north-east-rugby/2009/04/10/6ft-9in-david-sheldon-awaiting-tall-orders-61634-23356374/


A 6ft 9in winger?!?

[yappysnap]

Surely if Hodgson can't meet the physical requirements of the Championship then he's going to really struggle to ever make it in the Prem.

[Driver]

He could be like our George North given the the space and time on the ball.

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