Newcastle Falcons - Premiership 2024 - 2025 - The Diamond Era

First topic message reminder :

Director of Rugby (Non Rugby Matters): Matt Thompson
Head Coach & DOR (Rugby Matters): Steve Diamond
Performance Coach: Mark Laycock
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: Alan Dickens & Steve Diamond
Attack Coach: Alan Dickens
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Breakdown: Micky Ward & Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock
S&C: Tim Payne

Current Squad:

Hookers
Jamie Blamire (Leaving for tigers in summer)
Bryan Byrne
Ollie Fletcher (A)
Jacob Oliver (A)

Props
TH
Eduardo Bello
Murray MaCallum
Richard Palframan
Callum Hancock (A)

LH
Adam Brocklebank
Luin De Bruin
Mike Rewcastle (A)
Isaac Keller (A)
Connor Hancock (A)

Locks
Sebastian De Chaves
Kiran McDonald
Tim Cardall
Luke Coulston (A)
Adam Scott (A)
Fin Baker (A)

Back 5
Pedro Rubiolo
Philip van der Walt
John Kelly
John Hawkins

Back Row
Callum Chick
Josh Bainbridge
Tom Gordon
Freddie Lockwood
Ollie Leatherbarrow
Marcus Tiffin
Cameron Neild
[b]Reuben Parsons (A)
[b]Charlie Turnbull (A)

Scrum Halves
Sam Stuart
Hugh O'Sullivan
James Elliott
Max Pepper
Ben Douglas (A)
Joe Davis (A)

Fly Halves
Brett Connon
Kieran Wilkinson
Junior Newton (A)

Centres
Cameron Hutchison
Jack Metcalf
Sam Arnold
Connor Doherty (Season Loan from Sale)
Oli Spencer (A)
Rhys Beeckmans (A)

Wingers
Ben Stevenson
Alex Hearle
Adam Radwan
Nathan Greenwood (A)

Full Back
Tom Penny - To be confirmed staying or leaving
Louis Brown
Elliott Obatoyinbo
Ben Redshaw (A)

Geordie wrote:Well the silence from KP is deafening!

Walder is presumably on gardening leave whilst they thrash out the legal bits of him leaving.

Yeah thats the general thought Sam.

Everyones getting their knickers in a twist over Trevor going. Yes its a shame as hes a very good player and a local lad. Something has clearly gone on behind the scenes if what im hearing is true...however we have signed a very good replacement in Murray McCallum.
And we've signed two good locks and potentially dynamic young hooker.

Cant wait to hear whats gone on.

It sounds to me like Davison was already done for next season but Saints offered a transfer fee to get him early and Falcons took the cash. Understandable really in the current financial situation. An extra few £k to add to the wage offered to a potential DOR for instance.

By all accounts KC, Trevor really didnt want to go and has been incredibly angry about the way this has all been handled.

i do completely get making some money when we can.

Be curious to see who steps up or comes in. Mark Laycock is incredibly highly rated...but whether hes experienced enough for this job is another matter.

i suspect we may go outside the club and get some one experienced.

Is there any truth to the rumour that Newcastle are on the chopping block for a 10 team Premiership?

As no side has qualified for promotion for the end of the season as it stands today will the Premiership really stay at a uneven number for 2023/24 season?

Welshmushroom wrote:Is there any truth to the rumour that Newcastle are on the chopping block for a 10 team Premiership?

As no side has qualified for promotion for the end of the season as it stands today will the Premiership really stay at a uneven number for 2023/24 season?

An unlikely target for relegation as they give the league a foothold up north and have a decent record at developing players.

king_carlos wrote:It sounds to me like Davison was already done for next season but Saints offered a transfer fee to get him early and Falcons took the cash. Understandable really in the current financial situation. An extra few £k to add to the wage offered to a potential DOR for instance.

He was under contract for next season. Whether Falcons were already expecting a deal to be done and so had McCallum incoming for that reason or whether getting cash for next season and a likely free loan option was to good to turn right now I don't know.

Statement from the Falcons...

https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/dave-walder-to-leave-newcastle-falcons

I think the financial situation at Falcons maybe worse than anyone really knows. Very disappointed to lose Walder, he was doing a great job with the limited squad we have. I just don't know how we can realistically be any better?

English rugby as a whole is in a state....I'm just glad we still have a club.

What a victory that was, 14 men for 60 minutes! They showed so much grit and guts, feared the worst when the red card was given early on, but the back three rescued it.

Great victory for Falcons. Really stuck together as a team and found a way to win. Made Glaws look toothless in the second half.

Ive made most games this season ...but missed this one due to having a 5 month old little boy....typical I missed this apparent cracker.

Be back to normal dirge next game...

And now you're going to worry it's you jinxing them

Injuries to Blamire and Orlando might make it more difficult next weekend.

Well Ollie Fletcher will have to show what he can do Sam , apparently his defence was excellent when he came on. He's young but he's a big physical lad so he might find himself starting as Blamires replacement. And Thunder and Lighting might get a run out.

Geordie wrote:Well Ollie Fletcher will have to show what he can do Sam , apparently his defence was excellent when he came on. He's young but he's a big physical lad so he might find himself starting as Blamires replacement.  And Thunder and Lighting might get a run out.

He wasn't as present as Blamire in the loose. His lineout work was very good though, for a young lad coming into the side that's an unusual area of strength.

Well I've said for a while now he's a one to watch and he could even over take Blamire of Jamie doesn't push on again.

It's going to be fascinating to watch them develop...and the even younger Charlie Smith who's another talent at 2.

See we are linked with Blacket, and someone from France as new head coach.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/deal-agreed-for-alex-codling-to-become-the-new-newcastle-boss/?fbclid=IwAR3pen_UiJ8Jeto8g3Sctx-g_c7kTagIbAkNWaBpjcU5s2UU0kJnZxC-mRQ

Alex Codling new Head Coach...

Well he's an experienced coach. Lineout specialist who's worked in England, Ireland and France. Even did a summer with Eddie.

Hes experienced, lets see how he goes.

The talent is there...we have signed a few decent pack players so lets see if he can continue the improvement Walder was slowly making.

So Will Welch to retire at the end of the season.

Big changes all round at the club.

Its also been confirmed that tried to get Pivac before Codling.

Codling spent a year at Ulster as head coach for the 'A' team and was a complete failure

Never stays anywhere long - I would be concerned

Geordie wrote:So Will Welch to retire at the end of the season.

Welch has been a cracking Prem player and servant to Falcons. Had it not been for injuries he may have gone further it could be argued on the early talent. I know Tigers courted him hard on a couple of occasions but he wanted to stay with his hometown club. Good player and a good man by all accounts. I wish him all the best in retirement.

From that 2010 England u20s side it looked like Alex Gray and Welch might have big futures. As things transpired Mark Wilson ended up being the best player of the back rows Falcons took on around the time. Welch went from burgeoning openside to a bit of an all-rounder that covered the back row and a very good skipper. Whilst Gray went to the NFL, Sevens and ended up a centre. Funny old world, hey!

Yeah absolutely KC.

Welch started as a real sprightly opensider...but adapted to a more physical 6 style player really.

The season we were 4th...him and Mark Wilson were absolute granite machines. Think they were first and second in the league for tackles that year. Never took a backward step.

Hes also as you say a really nice guy. Happy to chat in the stands with you...no big ego at all.

Geordie wrote:Yeah absolutely KC.

Welch started as a real sprightly opensider...but adapted to a more physical 6 style player really.

The season we were 4th...him and Mark Wilson were absolute granite machines. Think they were first and second in the league for tackles that year. Never took a backward step.

Hes also as you say a really nice guy. Happy to chat in the stands with you...no big ego at all.

I used to work with one of his (many) siblings. Very nice person.

geoff999rugby wrote:Codling spent a year at Ulster as head coach for the 'A' team and was a complete failure

Never stays anywhere long - I would be concerned

Normally 18 months to 2 years per post. Some of the posts so very much looking career building options. At a guess I'd say he's been building towards getting a head coach role for a while.

Well hardly earth shattering news....but apparently there's going to be a massive coaching overhaul...Scott Macleod the first to go as that's Codlings specialist area.

Alex Tait announces his retirement.

Scott Macleod confirmed as leaving ending of season.

Mark Wilson confirms he's leaving aswell.

Wow complete overhaul at the falcons by the looks of it....

https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/flanker-josh-bainbridge-to-join-newcastle-falcons

Add to Leatherbarrow, and Pepper signing a 2 year extension...and Collett ...7 is gonig to be a competitive position.

Ollie Leatherbarrow has played 8 for the Scotland under 20s so perhaps he'll play some rugby there. Get breakdown threats in more than one backrow position. Having watched the game Vs Saints, the pack was physical enough but the lack of anyone attacking the breakdown gave Saints lots of quick ball they just pulled you apart with. Start disrupting the breakdown more and defending becomes easier.

Well they're certainly targeting that area Sam....

So Fearns and Peterson both confirmed they're leaving on Twitter, but nothing from the club yet.

Some of the kids released aswell.
Obonna
Civil and Greenlaw the Centres
Blackett the scrum half.
etc
Some a bit of a surprise

Massive changes all round...

Your incoming second row Kelly has been named in the Championship team of the season.

So I see Sam so was Simon Uzokwe the 7 who we got rid of because he wasn't deemed good enough. We did have a lot of back row options back them mind...so maybe he didn't get the best chance.

John Kelly is top of the league stats for making yards with a standing stsrt...I guess something Billy V was good at.

IF and it's a big IF with Prem defences....he can bring rhat ability next year....then he'll be a good signing....and he also looks scary as.....and has a mullet!

Most academies have that issue of a lots of talent at back row. Trying to pick the right horse at a young age is tough. In junior rugby a lot of the best athletes in the forwards gravitate towards the back row unless their bulk or height makes them obvious for prop or second row respectively. So it gets very congested.

In recent years I think Tigers have done well in identifying and keeping first Reffell and then Illione from that concentration of talent. In the same time though we've released Jordan Tebbatt for instance who is now training with Sale and I think could be a player. Ben Muncaster was kept on as senior academy after school but released to join Edinburgh (Scottish born) and is coming on well. Will Evans of course came right through to the senior side, looked terrific very early but left for Quins as he wanted to be in London for personal reasons. Going further back Hamish Watson was released coming out of the U18s as the senior coaches didn't want him despite the academy coaches pushing for him to be kept.

It's funny how certain academies seem to produce in certain positions but not others as well. Tigers haven't had a winger properly come through in an age now for instance but second row is stacked, scrum-halves have kept coming through and props are consistently stepping up. No centres really since Manu either. Kelly and Porter were picked up young from lower tiers and developed excellently but neither were academy.

Falcons seem to have a constant supply of rapid wingers coming through, lots of talented hookers and strong back row talent.

Yeah the halcyon days of Tigers producing a number of centres feels a long way off. Smith, Twelvetrees and Manu is more than a decade ago now. Hopefully we're going to break the duck with Joe Woodward coming through.

Didn't Falcons try and move Simon Uzokwe into the front row? Can work with backrows as Grahamslaw the former Tigers academy backrow in the Championship team of the season at loosehead shows.

Very true KC....many falcons myself included were disappointed when Uzokwe was released but as you day Back Row has always been a strength and next season looking so again. We signed 2 7s and have also managed to keep hold of Guy Pepper which is a massive move by the club.

I think the management have addressed a few gaps in the squad...the breakdown and some heavy traffic carrying.

My biggest concern is still 9 and 10. Our 9s are average at best.
Our 10s...Connon has actually done well this season Contrary to the criticism from the fans. Hes solid in general with the odd moment of real quality...but not a world beater.

Schoeman has played about 2 games another pointless signing...and youngsters Thomas and Johnson are work in progress

formerly known as Sam wrote:Yeah the halcyon days of Tigers producing a number of centres feels a long way off. Smith, Twelvetrees and Manu is more than a decade ago now. Hopefully we're going to break the duck with Joe Woodward coming through.

Didn't Falcons try and move Simon Uzokwe into the front row? Can work with backrows as Grahamslaw the former Tigers academy backrow in the Championship team of the season at loosehead shows.

I vaguely remember something about moving Uzokwe yes.

Yeah its funny how sides produce certain positions.

We produce wingers, back rowers and hookers.

We have 2 locks coming through who bring hope...and Brantingham...but they are more exceptions to the rule.

Falcons have signed London Irish scrum half Hugh O'Sullivan...

Not sure Falcons needed another squad man scrum half.

Don't know alot about him Sam.

Given he doesn't play much neither do I. Just that he was third choice 9 at Irish after being third or fourth choice 9 at Leinster. Maybe there's some untapped talent LI and now Newcastle think can still be brought out.

Yeah well we shall see....not sure what's happening with our scrum half's....we've realised young Blackett.

But we do have young Douglas who's a hell of a talent...and Kelemeti just seems to be stalling a bit ..rhen we have two old men Stusrt and Young who aren't inspiring.

Edit: Theres young Josh Barton who we signed from Coventry last season who played a few games and gave real hope finally then we barely saw him again...

O'Sullivan had an odd stint with us.

Looked dreadful in his first 18 months during his occasional appearances at the club and was effectively 4th choice at the start of this season. Then with Ben White away in the 6N, managed to get into contention and looked pretty decent. Ended up putting in better performances that Powell anyway. Probably worth a punt.

Well I guess we will wait and see...

I think a bigger issue is the front row...or more specifically props...

Current stables
Seasoned players
Adam Brocklebank 2024
Mark Tampin 2025
Murray McCallum 2025 New

Playere who should get much more gametime
Mark Dormer (A) 2024 -
Phil Brantingham (A) 2024 -

Academy players unlikely to make much first team impact this season..
Issac Keller (A) 2024 New
Mike Rewcastle (A) 2024 -
Sam Clark (A) 2024

To be confirmed - Out of contract
Connor Kenny
Conrad Cade
Logo Mulipola
Palframan

Falcons leavers confirmed...a few surprises...

Conrad Cade,
Connor Collett,
Matthew Dalton,
Carl Fearns,
Gary Graham,
Conor Kenny,
Pete Lucock,
Tom Marshall,
Logovi’i Mulipola,
Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti,
Greg Peterson,
Sean Robinson,
Alex Tait,
Will Welch
Michael Young.

Sean Robinson? Blimey that is a shock, is his injury a bad one?

Yeah thats the big one to all falcons fans.

Either his injury which has plagued him over the last couple if years is worse than thought or he's going for a last big contract. If he is...Good luck to him he's been a top player for us.

Edit
Looks like a big payday abroad.