New era, Newcastle Red Bulls

[Geordie]

Forwards looking much more physical.

1 De Bruin
2 Mcguigan
3 Bello
4 Clarke
5 De Chaves for a lineout guy, or Hodgson / Cardall for more grunt
6 & 7 Options now
Tom Gordon / Tom Christie / John Hawkins (Who I really like as a taller 6) / Nield
8 Mafi / Lockwood

Backs However....some work to do.

9 Benitez Cruz
10 Connon (Need a 10)
11 Hearle
12 Arnold
13 Doherty
14 Greenwood (Academy Lad, rapid but 10 stone wet through and inexperienced)
15 Obatoyimbo (Need a full back)

 

[Reiser99]

I'll be surprised if Red Bull don't put their own people in at most levels there- their take overs are usually pretty comprehensive. Keep Dimes and the coaching staff, and clean sweep the rest.

I imagine they will, but being so close to the start of the season it would be very risky to dump all your existing staff and bring it people with little or no experience of rugby. I reckon they slowly appoint people to management positions over the year so they can get up to speed with the club and then if they want to do a clean sweep it will be at the end of the season.

 

[davten]

Forwards looking much more physical.

1 De Bruin
2 Mcguigan
3 Bello
4 Clarke
5 De Chaves for a lineout guy, or Hodgson / Cardall for more grunt
6 & 7 Options now
Tom Gordon / Tom Christie / John Hawkins (Who I really like as a taller 6) / Nield
8 Mafi / Lockwood

Backs However....some work to do.

9 Benitez Cruz
10 Connon (Need a 10)
11 Hearle
12 Arnold
13 Doherty
14 Greenwood (Academy Lad, rapid but 10 stone wet through and inexperienced)
15 Obatoyimbo (Need a full back)

Agree definitely need backs now, agreed about the full back and a couple of wings (Ironically ) I'm sure there are more signings to be announced.
If I'm being greedy I think we could do with a couple of props, Bello coming back from a year long injury and De Bruin has struggled with injuries too.

 

[Geordie]

Agree definitely need backs now, agreed about the full back and a couple of wings (Ironically ) I'm sure there are more signings to be announced.
If I'm being greedy I think we could do with a couple of props, Bello coming back from a year long injury and De Bruin has struggled with injuries too.

De Bruin is the concern for me. Hes had ****les for the last few years. But theyve kept him on so they must think hes ok.

 

[Kingston Parker]

I imagine they will, but being so close to the start of the season it would be very risky to dump all your existing staff and bring it people with little or no experience of rugby. I reckon they slowly appoint people to management positions over the year so they can get up to speed with the club and then if they want to do a clean sweep it will be at the end of the season.

I agree, I think it will be a slower process than I first thought. It needs to happen though, at a lot of levels.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Good article in the Grauniad. RB had been looking to invest in rugby for some time and Newcastle just happened to become their vehicle. Everyone’s all very upbeat at the moment, but it’s going to be fascinating to see how it pans out.

Red Bull era takes flight after Newcastle break record for season ticket sales

New owner is planning investment on and off the field as anticipation grows in sports-mad region

www.theguardian.com

 

[davten]

Yeah just read it, great article which has quite a bit of detail in it.
Interesting to read there's no interest in the breakaway league
New kit launched mid season will be a bit bizarre but looking forward to the coming season.
As a falcons supporter this is all surreal after years of under funding. Bring it on

 

[mdaclarke]

I just hope they don't take the character away from the stadium when they improve it, I don't like all the identikit football stadiums.

Also go back to real grass.

 

[davten]

Not sure about returning to grass, the pitch prior to going over to 4G was awful.

 

[davten]

I always thought Kingston Park was under branded. I thought a few large Falcons badges on the side of stadium wouldnt have gone amiss.
Hopefully the stadium will be vastly improved and branded, so when your passing the place you know exactly who plays there.

 

[Saintjay]

I always thought Kingston Park was under branded. I thought a few large Falcons badges on the side of stadium wouldnt have gone amiss.
Hopefully the stadium will be vastly improved and branded, so when your passing the place you know exactly who plays there.

A pair of bullocks hanging from the rafters should do the trick then.

Oh look the red balls stadium

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

It’s been reported that Dimes has been sacked.

 

[McTallshort]

It's been reported that Dimes has been sacked.

Newcastle Red Bulls: Club parts company with director of rugby Steve Diamond

Steve Diamond leaves his role as director of rugby at Newcastle Red Bulls after just one game of the new Prem season.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Saintjay]

Probably didn't fit the image or vision of a glamour club like Red Bulls.

They need a young good looking southerner.

 

[Ddanno]

Probably didn't fit the image or vision of a glamour club like Red Bulls.

They need a young good looking southerner.

You applying then?

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Newcastle Red Bulls: Club parts company with director of rugby Steve Diamond

Steve Diamond leaves his role as director of rugby at Newcastle Red Bulls after just one game of the new Prem season.

www.bbc.co.uk

The arrival of Jonny Petrie should worry our contingent from the North East. His tenure at Ulster definitely didn’t leave them in better shape than when he arrived.

 

[Geordie]

Probably didn't fit the image or vision of a glamour club like Red Bulls.

They need a young good looking southerner.

Phil Dowsons name keeps coming up...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Phil Dowsons name keeps coming up...

I’ve heard that but wonder how his family would feel about being loved a long way up the country. On one hand they might love it (if he has other family up there) on other hand they might hate it as have settled in the shire.