Newcastle Falcons 2015 / 2016

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Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: John Wells
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock

Current Squad (A= Academy):
Forwards
Props:
TH - Taione Vea, Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Paddy Ryan, Andrew Foster
LH - Ben Harris, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry, Alex Rogers, Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank (A)

Hookers: Scott Lawson, Ben Sowrey, Kyle Cooper
David Nelson (A), Santiago Socino (A)

Second Rows: Callum Green, Mauritz Botha, Will Witty, Sean Robinson , Evan Olmstead, Nick Civetta, Glen Youngs, Andrew Davidson
Harry Snowdon (A), Josh Williams (A), Max Davies (A),

Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Dan Temm, Joshua Chisanga, Harrison Orr, Opeti Fonua, Tyrone Holmes
Joe Craggs (A), Calum Chick (A), Sebastian Ferreira (A), Simon Uzokwe (A)

Backs
SH's: Sonatane Tukulua, Micky Young, Sam Egerton
Dan Taylor (A),  Ruaridh Dawson (A)

Fh's: Tom Catterick, Mike Delaney, Joel Hodgson  
Craig Willis (A), Brett Connon (A)

Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Adam Powell, Chris Harris,
Adam Redman centre (A), Tom Penny (A)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Marcus Watson, Zac Kibirige, Veriniki Goneva,
Dan Marshall (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley
Ed Coulson (A)

Signings for Next Season:
Niki Goneva - Wing (Leicester)
Sam Lockwood - LH Prop (Jersey)
Sam Egerton - SH (7's / Quins)
Harrison Orr - Back Row (Ealing)
Joel Hodgson - 9, 10, 15 (Leeds)
Ben Sowrey - Hooker (Worcester)
Evan Olmstead - Lock (London Scottish)
Opeti Fonua - Back Rower
Nick Civetta - Lock forward
Andrew Davidson (Academy) - Lock Forward
Kyle Cooper - Hooker
Tyrone Holmes - 6/7 - Glasgow

We need some centres to feed that back three though KC.

Willis is a young FH but we are hopeful of him...but we are all concerned about our centres.

3 Signings being announced this week...hopefully one is a real quality centre.

http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/canada-lock-evan-olmstead-signs-for-falcons
Evan Olmstead a big powerful Canadian lock is announced - from London Scottish! So we're defo losing on of Witty, Furno or Thompson.

Hope hes not another Eric Fry!

Just looking at the championship team of the year, and the write up for our new prop from jersey is very promising.

1. Sam Lockwood (Jersey)

Jersey always seem to find and develop excellent props and Lockwood is no different. Has been rewarded for his form with a move to Newcastle in the Premiership. Destructive scrummager whose ball carrying ability and work rate in defence make him a top prospect. Doncaster’s Richard List and London Welsh’s Nathan Trevett were on the shortlist

With him on one side and Welsh on the other, that could e the start of a very powerful front row.

Hopefully GF, we certainly need some quality at LH as Vickers struggles a little these days.

Not sure what I think of Olmstead, I have a feeling he'll be another Fry. I like that the focus seems to be on big carrying forwards which is something we've really missed over the last few season. You look at teams like Wasps & Sarries and they have numerous options to get them over the gain line, we usually have one in Latu, or Wilson if playing backrow.

1. Lockwood*
2. Sowery*
3. Welsh
4. Olmstead*
5. Robinson
6. Wilson
7. Latu
8. Orr*

Complete unknowns * but rumoured big, mobile carrying options.

I imagine Deano is shaving a fair amount off the budget with these left field signings, I hope it pays off.

Yeah that budget should be in good shape...and we'll probably shed more with Kane Thompson etc being shipped out.

I still think Chisanga at 8 could be a signing aswell. He'll be totally raw - a rough diamond but I see him as a bigger version of Latu. Just a physical beast who will carry hard and get in everyones face defensively.

We've certainly signed of muscle and size so far...

Most Prem sides should recruit from the Championship and lower leagues more. Exeter have profited from it hugely since coming into the Prem. Nev Edwards has been a terrific example of what an unpolished gem from the lower leagues can do if given a chance and some confidence as well.

Calum Green is another who showed how much potential it has for developing a players all round game as well. When he left Tigers he had plenty of potential but usually put in 1 good game followed by a couple of invisible ones. He was a bit of a penalty magnet too. After a couple of seasons in the Prem he has been excellent for Falcons though.

Lockwood seems like he could be a terrific pick-up by Deano. There are very few ways to pick up a reliable prop without shelling out a big contract for them. Obviously performance in the Championship is no guarantee he'll settle in the Prem but it's a smarter investment than many sides make in the front row IMO. It sounds like he's in a similar mould to his old Jersey teammate Harry Williams who has settled into the Exeter set-up very quickly.

Green to return to Tigers would be nice.

It would be nice but also a terrible move for him as a player. He'd just do what Seb De Chaves has done this season, sitting in the stands and not getting the game time he deserves.

Latu has signed an extension to his contract - great news. What a player he's been this season.

Greens a player that every falcons fan rates. A strong, solid workhorse in the engine room.

Green initially did well for Tigers, only his knee injuries stopped him breaking into the first time. No surprise when someone pulled him back up from the Championship.

Whats your thoughts on the new signings Sgt.

A back rower, who again apparently is a BEAST of a ball carrier. And a 6'8 lock. Both USA internationals.

Gonzalo Tiesi confirmed as leaving.

Look interesting GF. Will they be any good? Who knows.

The bulk of your recruitment seems to be on the cheap side. Is Deano having to work to rather tight budget constraints?

Or is there big signings imminent? Can't have been that expensive to retain the likes of Wilson and Welch. They will have had pay rises but it can't be that big to be a cap constraint.

LondonTiger wrote:The bulk of your recruitment seems to be on the cheap side. Is Deano having to work to rather tight budget constraints?

Of course he is.

I wouldn't be surprised if we're actually spending less next season. Tuilagi, Tiesi, Furno and Thompson would have been big earners. We made a loss last year but it was less than previous seasons.

It doesn't concern me if they're cheap. Its if they can play or not. As Sgt said we've had a few who would have been on decent wages and were rubbish.

I'm optimistic.

Tukulua has signed an extension.

Good news.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Or is there big signings imminent? Can't have been that expensive to retain the likes of Wilson and Welch. They will have had pay rises but it can't be that big to be a cap constraint.

I doubt Falcons playing budget is driven by the cap.

I'd be surprised if we're spending half of the cap next season tbh.

Yeah, we wont be paying huge on wages.

Its a little risky on some of the players but if they show the form we hope then it could be a very good gamble.

especially as some of the big signings recently have totally flattered to deceive.

Will Witty signs new deal.

Will Witty signs new deal

For Gloucester?

Guess all those Glos rumours were rubbish.

Furno confirmed as going back to Italy. No loss whatsoever.... And should free up budget

Now for Thompson to go aswell.

Thompson will be off too.

I hope we get 2 quality additions in from these recent departures. A big hooker and quality 12 would do nicely.

Yeah that would be good.

Have a suspicion it may be Lawson and Sowerby sharing the Hooker duties though.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Guess all those Glos rumours were rubbish.

Or agent talk to hurry the negotiations on his new contract.

I see we have signed another young academy lock...Andrew Davidson from the Scotland Academy.

We're certainly acquiring locks young and old.

Is he EQ?

No Scottish I believe through and through...but a stand out in the recent U20 6n apparently.

One for the future.

We have a good range of locks now...in the seniors and academy...and a good mix of grunt and finess lineout.

Of course not, Scotland don't have a A side.

That's got to be us fully stocked at lock!

Yeah I would think so Sgt.

Happy with that lot...and should see the likes of Witty, Youngs and Snowdon getting a bit more time this season...

Looks a big unit!

Yeah he's 6'7 and looks like he has a bit about him.

We'll not see him much next season though...academy lad probably off to Blaydon or Tynedale.

Quite a few ahead of him. But nice to see us looking to the future and keeping the Scotland links.

Whats your thoughts on Youngs, Witty and Snowdon. They must be coming to the end of their academy stint now...do you think any will break through in the next few years.

Youngs looked a very promising lineout lock, but Robinson seemingly has that nailed.

That Snowdon is about 6'8 and 20st...hes huge.

Bobby Vickers signs an extension.

Marcus Watson is in the training squad for the Olympics 7...

And Is also confirmed at being back with us next season. Great stuff!!

Sgt
Have you seen that academy back rower whos just signed properly Simon Uzokwe.

He looks an absolute beast! Played this season for Darlington and was their stand out player. He's with them next season again.

Nice to see with the likes of him and that Scottish lock Davidson coming in...we are catering for the future aswell .

I went down to watch a few guys who I grew up with playing against Darlington for Hull Ionians earlier this season when Uzowke was playing. The bloke is absolutely enormous! He also seemed a handy player, barged over for an early try and generally seemed a handful. Although his immediate instinct is to take contact (like most guys his size do) so he'll need to develop his game a bit.

Santiago Socino was playing that day as well and also looked a like unit... until he got sin binned.

Yes he looks massive...and will learn to not always look straight for the contact...he's only young.

Socino will get some gametime for the Falcons next season KC. Hes been very good for the A team and as you say hes a big unit.

Ironically....

Socino joined us as flanker and was sent to Darlington and he was change to a hooker
Uzokwe joined us as a hooker and was sent to Darlington and was changed to a flanker!

Belisario Agulla signs an extension

So there's only really Eric Fry and Kane Thompson to be dealt with.
Kibirige will definitely be staying.

Penny, Connon and Marshall sign extensions.... 3 good young lads coming through.

Good news coming out. The 3 youngsters look like talents, be interesting to see how how Connon develops and if Penny can nail down a spot.

Calum Green (Lock), Andrew Foster (TH), Santi SOcino (Hooker) and Glen youngs (Lock) all sign extensions.

Youngs played for Doncaster this season and has done very well...and Dean says he will be much more involved with the Falcons 1st team next season.

We've got some serious lock options next season...I imagine Kane Thompson will be gone!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Calum Green (Lock), Andrew Foster (TH), Santi SOcino (Hooker) and Glen youngs (Lock) all sign extensions.

Youngs played for Doncaster this season and has done very well...and Dean says he will be much more involved with the Falcons 1st team next season.

We've got some serious lock options next season...I imagine Kane Thompson will be gone!

http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/thompson-seals-nz-return

He's gone. Cracking player when not injured but hardly ever the case.

I imagine he and Furno were on decent money so that'll free some up.

Yeah saw that last night Sgt.

No loss at all...never played, nor Furno. I think we have some cracking locks now...both academy and newly signed.

I'm very interested to see that Civetta the US lock. Hope he can rise up to this level!

That Olmstead looks like a beefed up version of Calum Green

And Dean has said Glen Youngs (who is on loan at Doncaster and played in most of their games) will get a lot of games for us next season.

I dunno - I was in the same position this time last year - really pleased that London Welsh had kept us up and looking forward to the start of next season.

I know Marmota monax are a Yankee phenomenon so what furry quadrupedal mammal do we have that could describe Groundhog Day?

Its my last year of being optimistic Trailape. Give it my all again...and if its the same then ill change my tact.

It's a big change of focus in recruitment, it's a gamble. We've signed young, unproven players bar Goneva. The wage bill must be hugely reduced so finances should look better.

Actually pre-season is the best time for us Falcons.

There's at least hope...