Newcastle Falcons 2013/2014

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell (Leaving at the end of the season)
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
 
Current Squad: Underlined are new signings coming in the summer 2014
 
Forwards
Props: Grant Shiels, Oliver Tomasczyk, Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Jeff Hallam, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry
Hookers: Matt Thompson, Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows:Scott MacLeod, Sean Tomes, Frasier McKensie, Dom Barrow, Callum Green  
Back Row:Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Ben Morris, Semisi Taulava

Backs
SH's: Chris Pilrgrim (Signed for Leeds), Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Andy Davies, Ruki Tipuna
Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis 
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, James Fitzpatrick (Signed for Leeds), Alex Crocket, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Chris Harris  
Wing: Ryan Shortland, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Out of contract Summer 2014:
Grant Shiells  
Oliver Tomaszczyk  
Gary Strain
Sean Tomes  
Ian Nagle (Trial till end of season)
Harry Spencer (Trial till end of season)
Chris York
Warren Fury  
Joel Hodgson  
Alex Crockett  
Ryan Shortland

Well the boys are back in preseason, and we have a batch of new signings..(some featured at the end of last season) whilst we have lost a few noteably Mr Gopperth.

Whats your opinions of the signings so far then...and who will make the biggest impact. What areas are you happy with and what areas do you have concerns with.

Andy Saull
Adam Powell
Mike Blair
Noah Cato
Rory Clegg
Danny Barnes
Fraser McKenzie
Scott Lawson
Phil Godman

Personally Mike Blair is the obvious one...but im curious to see Fraser McKenzie. He was on the verge of Scotland caps but got an injury...and a few Scots fans have said he is the real deal enforcer second row yet mobile aswell..maybe like Slater at Tigers. If Wells and Deano can get to work on him...could be a great signing to work some shifts with big Carlo...
Also do we have a replacement for McLeod as hes not getting any younger...is that the idea of Dom Barrow? This hasnt been confirmed yet...

Also can Saull be unleashed to play a heads up role he seems to desire and fulfill the potential every one saw in him. Does this mean Welch will move to 6 or will they share the 7 duties.

A big gap could be at 10 though. Whilst i was not the biggest Gopperth fan...you knew what you got with him...and he was solid.
We now have the still potential talent of Clegg(his passing and vision is very good) and the burgeoning talent of Hodgson...or the aging Godman (oh my)
I assume Clegg will start...

So far i see the lineup

1 Shiels
2 Lawson
3 Tomas / Wilson
4 Del Fava / McKensie
5 McLeod
6 Wilson
7 Saull / Welch
8 Hogg

9 Blair
10 Clegg
11 Shortland
12 Helleur
13 Powell
14 Catterick
15 Tait

lets do this!!!

I'd start Welch ahead of Saull every possible time. If i needed to knacker him, I'd still start him...ok maybe the odd rotation, but I don't rate Saull at all I'm afraid. Bit of a mixed bag on signings.

Yeah Welchy is captain and the first name on the team sheet in my opinion.

However,  I do rate Saull.   I think he is in the more classic open-side mould that offers more in attack.   

I agree with Hood though, overall the signings have been a mixed bag.  I am really pleased with the capture of Fraser McKenzie and Mike Blair,  but I am not sure about Godman and Scott Lawson.  Godman seems a very average player and Lawson always seemed a bit underpowered when he was playing for Gloucester.  I can't remember if his darts were good or not though,  which suggest they were probably okay.

Yeah i think most falcons think our signings are a bit of a mixed bag Cumbrian.

Keep hearing great reviews of McKensie..lets hope they're true and Wells and Deano can get that out of him.
Blair is an obvious one.

Godman...well he's an old experienced guy in there to aid Clegg and Hodgson...but i can think of better old experienced guys to bring in...even Andy Goode would be a better choice if thats the type of player your looking for.

Lawson again i wasnt sure...but his performance v SA suggested that he does have the ability and the physicality...maybe its a consistency issue.

I still think Deano and Wells can get the best out of them...they've got Olly playing, doing nicely with Scotty Wilson, and i think they'll work their magic with Saull aswell.

Geordie - to be fair, I was one of the people who haven't really rated Lawson to date but nobody can deny that he had some stonking performances in the Quadrangular in South Africa over the past fortnight. He was instrumental in winning quite a few scrum penalties against a full strength Springbok front row. It wasn't one or two isolated incidents either - it was a complete performance. If he can keep it up, he's going to pleasantly surprise you.

I honestly think that Jimmy going is a blessing in disguise for you. As a Glasgow fan, watching Gopperth was like watching Dan Parks. Great boot, great territorial kicking, could boss a game but invariably did not use a good backline as much as it could have been used. You'll be forced to start again and whoever starts will have a decent pack in front of them and good, fast service from Blair. I haven't seen much of Clegg but I know a lot of people who rate him.

I totally agree about Gopperth. I have been hugely critical of him at times ...because of his over reliance on his boot.

Cleggs passing game is very good, but lacks elsewhere. Maybe getting regular gametime he can sort out those other deficiencies in his game. Hopefully this isnt at the expense of Hodgson getting games...and i hope Godman gets no games at all.

Lets see what happens with lawson...be interesting to see.

Is there any news on Lobo signing for us? He would be a cracking young lad for us and give a great set of props for the future.

Its quite quiet on all transfer fronts at the moment Fluxy.

By all accounts there is a handful of signings due to be announced...i'll be quite intrigued to see who they are.

Hopefully Lobo and Dom Barrow are two of them. But we have brought a number of young "unfulfilled" potential in so far...and i think Deano has a history of liking a few seasoned older guys in his team aswell (Ala Godman )...so i suspect we may be seeing a few of those types coming in aswell...

I notice Lobo is in the Argentina squad for the Rugby Championship...so if we do sign him he wont arrive till October ish anyway....

GeordieFalcon wrote:I notice Lobo is in the Argentina squad for the Rugby Championship...so if we do sign him he wont arrive till October ish anyway....

where did you see the Arg squad?

Its on planet rugby mate.
 
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8791470,00.html

Would explain why so many teams seem to be getting rid of their Argentinians...maybe they need a couple of teams to join the S15

Falcons fans...are there any of our academy players you think may get a bit of gametime at some point this season?

Scott Wilson
Zach Kibirige
Joe Robinson
Ben Morris
Jeff Hallam
George Mcguigan

I think it is going to be tough for the youngsters to break through into the first team this year, we are going to be fighting for our lives. But then how do they develop? It's a conundrum that isn't helped by geography. If you look at the other Premiership clubs, quite a few of them have relationships with clubs in the Championship which sees them dual registering their youngsters. This makes sure that fringe players get game time, but are close enough to be recalled to play first team/ A league matches at short notice.

The problem we have is the nearest Championship club to us is Leeds who are nearly two hours away. They also have an existing relationship with Sale and ambitions to get into the Premiership. What we really need is to get Darlington MP or West Hartlepool up to Championship level!

What about Tynedale and Blaydon coming up? They're only one below the championship.

Yeah i agree its tricky...we need the first choicers out there...but our kids need to have games otherwise they dont improve.
This is the biggest advantage a no relegation RABO has. There is no fear of playing the kids.

I still think there will be moments when we can give some of those above a bit of gametime.

West Hartlepool are a joke of a club now. Play on a school field

DMP play in a 20 thousand seater stadium

Helluer has signed a new contract. Good news...

So has Warren Fury!  

Gary Strain - Scottish 25yr old LH has signed from a French team. Never heard of him but he was in the Scottish U20 squads with Ritchie Gray etc, but never made it with Glasgow.

Curious aquisition.
Alex Tait and catterick signed new contracts along with Shortland and Cato.

Interesting on Lobo the Argentina prop...not signed yet but listed in the Argentina report as Newcastle.

First thing to say is good luck. Had no time for Knob Andrew but now he isn't the public face of the club, I can wish you well.
You have signed some old hands (which also means they have old legs, though) so won't lack for experience. Mike Blair is really missed at Edinburgh. He s one of those guys who you don't appreciate what he does until he isn't there doing it. Can we have him back please?
You do seem a bit heavy on SO's and hookers (4) but light on props (4)?
Who do you reckon are your main rivals at the bottom - LI and Wuss probably. You should have enough fire power to stay above them unless you play the way you did in the play off matches.

I didn't realise we had a new page!

Interesting link on the unoffy about some of the youngsters coming through; Sean Brown (wing), Simon Hammersley (Fullback), James Hallam (Prop), David Nelson (Hooker), Ben Morris (Flanker), Chris Harris (Back Three), Tom Penny (Utility back), Harrison Collins (Blindside).

I noticed Joe Robinson has been take from the profile section of the offy, anybody know if he has been released?

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/rugby/video/72417/former-sunderland-keeper-among-new-crop-of-talent-at-newcastle

Yeah its great to see the kids getting a chance.
 
Certainly livewire openside / back rower Ben Morris and LH Prop Jeff Hallam have stood out in particular last season.
 
Nice to see a couple of powerful hookers coming through aswell...with both McGuirk and Nelson signing new contracts...
 
Interesting about Robinson. Doesnt seem to be making the grade does he.

NB I notice Gary Strain is only on a months trial

Didn't realise Halam was 23, quite an old bunch really

Yeah i didnt realise Hallam was that...not old for props mind.

Keep our fingers crossed they come good over the next few seasons.

Still think we need a few old top class players in there...to help our survival...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah i didnt realise Hallam was that...not old for props mind.

Keep our fingers crossed they come good over the next few seasons.

Still think we need a few old top class players in there...to help our survival...

You're right to a point, GF. But I remember a previous foray into the top flight when you signed every knackered and old Scottish international there was - Armstrong, Weir etc. All great players in their prime but they had long since peaked by the time you guys signed them. Are you not better getting young potential (and dare I say it, also English) talent to supplement the experience that Mike Blair will bring?

PS You should start a book to guess how long it takes before Phil Godman's nickname at Edinburgh of "good" (as in "good god, man - what are you playing at?") gets widely used

Is that the old knackered players that took us to,the title? Gary Armstrong is one if my favorite ever falcon s players.

Dom Barrow confirmed on a 2 year deal.

Says he's 6'8 and over 18st...Wells and Deano should be able to work their magic with him...

Do you have any locks we can pinch fellas? Better then them going to Tigers anyhows....

Not really at the moment Yappy...our contingent is looking quite strong now, but a few are ageing...

Del Fava
Scott MacLeod simply awesome but 35 now i think?
Tomes - Will be a bit part player
Fraser McKensie - heard great things about this Scottish lad..very much in the Ed Slater mould apparently...
Dom Barrow

GeordieFalcon wrote:Gary Strain - Scottish 25yr old LH has signed from a French team. Never heard of him but he was in the Scottish U20 squads with Ritchie Gray etc, but never made it with Glasgow.

Geordie - I remember young Gazza - he was an absolutely reasonable prospect but Glasgow had a surfeit of talent at 1 at the time - he was never going to usurp an experienced international like Kevin Tkachuk or a young established talent like Jon Welsh whom Jim Telfer really rated. Lineen went with Hamish Mitchell as his young SQ prop choice instead (mostly due to his experience in NZ) - I think that there were still only 7 subs allowed back then too which didn't help Gary either.
 
So I think what I'm saying is that he won't be too bad and as long as you aren't assuming he'll be another Grant Shiells then you probably won't be disappointed.

Ah right cheers George.

Aparently hes only on a months trial. So he'll get a good working over to see what hes up to.

There arent many Grant Shiells...he's coming on leaps and bounds..cracking player.
But Wells has done great with Oli Tomaschyk...so maybe he can work some wonders with Strain aswell...who knows.

Barrow confirmed, although that isn't him in the picture...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23255208

Taken a while to confirm but done deal now. I wish him well, he has the makings for sure and hope Falcons do well with him on board.

Are there rumours about any of your other players Aitch? I hope you can keep the rest together. I know from the Falcons in my seat area we were all very impressed with what you guys were doing there...we need to see you build on that and make it back to the prem.

Haven't heard any GF but that doesn't mean much. We've made a few acquisitions but they're almost inevitably not 'big name' and some almost unheard of. It looks like the academy is going to have to be the source for the future. We've 3 going on tour with the under 18s but they are still at school and may not take the sport up professionally. It's hard to attract quality players to either stay in or move into the Championship. Geech is making very positive noises but he would wouldn't he and who knows what kind of a job the new coach is going to do. Not filled with confidence right now.

Speaking of Leeds' U18's I've read about Lewis Boyce, some people reckon he is going to be something special. His England profile suggests he is going to be a monster. He is 6ft 1in and 17st 2lb at 16... What are they feeding him!?!

Leeds have always had a great academy...and will continue to do so. I have faith...

See Joe Robinson has signed for Flyde, pity he never made the grade at Falcons.

Is that future England hero and monster blindside Joe Robinson of Geordie Falcon fame?

Joe is taking a break from destroying worlds to spends sometime on the pleasure beach.  

I never saw Joe play? What was the hype based on? Was it basically size and age?

It wasn't really hype, it was more of a running joke.

Yeah, disappointed to see that.

Yeah it was more just a bit of fun...but a little hope with his physical size and how well his fellow cumbrian Mark Wilson did.

Who we feeding the raw steaks to now???!!

You could be doing a Twelvetrees/T Youngs style move by sending him down to a lower level for a year or two to see if he kicks on with regular rugby. After a year or two he could be re-signed.

Possibly, but i wouldnt have thought so Sam. I just dont think he's really made the grade...or should i say Deano's grade.

Interesting on the Unoffy, they're all saying Lobo has signed (the Argentinian LH) but its just not on our official site yet?

Interesting on the Unoffy, they're all saying Lobo has signed (the Argentinian LH) but its just not on our official site yet?

I saw this last week, Geordie:
http://www.unoentrerios.com.ar/deportes/Lobo-Soaba-todas-las-noches-con-jugar-en-Los-Pumas-20130606-0008.html
 
The relevant part, via a urine poor free translation website is:
 

In such sense advance that is involved in this situation because he just signed the contract with Newcastle Falcons of England to play the Premiership for two years.

"When I called and got the list and I saw my name took me by surprise because I'm young and is a very big bet," he said.

On arrival at the English rugby said that driving with caution until both did the official confirmation and told details of the decision.

"Newcastle is a very important club of England that rose this year. Has a long name but a couple of years ago touched him descend. Now bet to be again protagonist and contract to coach Dean Richards who was the coach of the Leicester and that helped me make the decision," he said.

He was at Montpellier before, so he couldn't have been bad.