Newcastle Falcons Vs Exeter Chiefs Programme

NEWCASTLE FALCONS V EXETER CHIEFS - FRI NOV 25TH, 2022

STELRAD 

HELPING 

TO HEAT 

HOMES 

SUSTAINABLY 

Proudly supporting 

Not just any rad. Stelrad. 

FALCONS VS EXETER LINE-UPS 

ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO 15 

BEN STEVENSON 14 

MATIAS MORONI 13 

TOM PENNY 12 

MATEO CARRERAS 11 

BRETT CONNON 10 

MICHAEL YOUNG (CAPTAIN) 9 

LOGOVI’I MULIPOLA 1 

GEORGE MCGUIGAN 2 

RICHARD PALFRAMAN 3 

GREG PETERSON 4 

SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES 5 

CALLUM CHICK 6 

GUY PEPPER 7 

CARL FEARNS 8 

REPLACEMENTS 

JAMIE BLAMIRE 16 

ADAM BROCKLEBANK 17 

MARK TAMPIN 18 

SEAN ROBINSON 19 

FREDDIE LOCKWOOD 20 

SAM STUART 21 

ADAM RADWAN 22 

MATIAS ORLANDO 23 

REFEREE: 

ASSISTANT REFEREES: 

TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL: 

CITING OFFICER: 

15 JOSH HODGE 

14 DAN JOHN 

13 SEAN O’BRIEN 

12 IAN WHITTEN 

11 OLLY WOODBURN 

10 JOE SIMMONDS 

9 JACK MAUNDER 

1 ALEC HEPBURN 

2 JACK YEANDLE (CAPTAIN) 

3 HARRY WILLIAMS 

4 RUBEN VAN HEERDEN 

5 DAFYDD JENKINS 

6 LEWIS PEARSON 

7 CHRIST TSHIUNZA 

8 JACQUES VERMEULEN 

KARL DICKSON 

NEIL CHIVERS, JAMIE LEAHY 

ROWAN KITT 

BUDGE POUNTNEY 

REPLACEMENTS 

16 DAN FROST 

17 SCOTT SIO 

18 PATRICK SCHICKERLING 

19 JACK DUNNE 

20 DAVE EWERS 

21 SAM MAUNDER 

22 WILL BECCONSALL 

23 SOLOMONE KATA

Tonight we welcome Exeter Chiefs to Kingston Park Stadium for what 

we know will be a tough assignment against a good side – as they all are 

in the Gallagher Premiership. 

We of course come into the game on the back of a hard-earned win 

down at Gloucester in our last league game. 

It was a great display of attitude from the boys to really dig in and grind 

out the victory, although receiving four sin-binnings was never part of 

the plan! 

The first one for George McGuigan we felt was harsh, then Tom Penny 

slipped over defending a maul because he was wearing mouldies rather 

than proper studs (lesson learned!), and the other two were probably 

fair enough. 

It was a really important win for us, as much for the confidence of the 

group as anything else, and it was great to see some of the things coming 

to fruition that we’d been working on during the week in training. 

Scott MacLeod and Micky Ward in particular can take enormous credit 

on the coaching side for the work they put into defending Gloucester’s 

maul threat, which was a big part of getting that result. 

We’d also changed a few things in terms of how we set up the week and 

the match-day for the players, who performed brilliantly, and the key 

now is making sure that it isn’t a one-off. We’ll need to repeat that same 

kind of attitude and intensity against Exeter, who again will provide a 

huge physical challenge. 

The Chiefs have a lot of big ball-carriers, they like to play with tempo and 

they’ll play keep-ball all day long to try and keep you under pressure. 

That means patience and discipline will be key for us, but we’ve shown 

we can do it when our attitude is spot-on. 

This week has seen us boosted by the availability of our international 

players, with Greg Peterson back after his time with the USA out in Dubai, 

Sean Robinson and Adam Radwan back in midweek from the England 

training camp and the Argentina trio of Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni 

and Mateo Carreras all returning from their autumn internationals. 

It’s fantastic to have our players representing their countries, partly because 

it helps get Newcastle Falcons’ name out there, but also because 

they will come back as better players for being in that environment and 

being exposed to international rugby. 

DAVE WALDER 

“Our focus is entirely on 

getting our preparation 

and attitude right.” 

Myself, Mark Laycock, Micky Ward and Mark Wilson were all lucky 

enough to spend a full day with the Argentina squad last week as they 

prepared for their game against Scotland, and even in that short space 

of time we learnt a lot. Michael Cheika and his coaching team were really 

welcoming towards us, they gave us great access and spent a lot 

of time chatting to us, so we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity. 

You never stop learning in this job, but for now our focus is entirely on 

getting our preparation and attitude right against Exeter. 

If we do that, we give ourselves a great chance. 

Thanks again for coming out and supporting the team, and I hope you 

all enjoy the game. 

DAVE WALDER 

Head coach 

5

CLUB NEWS 

SPORT NEWCASTLE AWARDS 

Newcastle Falcons hooker Ollie Fletcher took one of the Rising Star 

awards at the recent Sport Newcastle dinner. 

England Under-20s. 

The multi-skilled hooker, who attended Newcastle School for Boys, 

is also a talented cricketer, and attended an awards night which also 

saw former director of rugby Dean Richards recognised. 

Richards was presented with the coveted Wilkinson Sword for 

lifetime achievement, with the England and Lions great spending 

more than a decade in charge of the Falcons. 

Photo credit: Ian Horrocks. 

PETERSON’S USA MISS OUT 

Newcastle Falcons lock Greg Peterson will not be playing at Rugby 

World Cup after his USA team missed out on qualification in dramatic 

style. 

A last-minute penalty for Portugal saw them drawing against the 

Eagles in the round-robin climax in Dubai, a result which meant the 

USA missing out on points difference as the Portuguese snatched 

the last remaining place at France 2023. 

CARDIFF TICKETS ON SALE 

Held at Newcastle Civic Centre, the 20-year-old was among the 

promising young sportspeople from around the region being 

recognised for their achievements. 

The past year has seen Fletcher making his first team debut for the 

Falcons, scoring his first try for the club and also representing 

Tickets are now on sale for Newcastle Falcons’ first home game of 

the EPCR Challenge Cup campaign on Saturday December 17, when 

they host Cardiff. 

The Kingston Park clash is a 5.30pm kick-off, with this season’s 

competition seeing the Falcons facing Cardiff and Irish province 

Connacht home and away. 

Season ticket holders are reminded that this game IS included as 

part of your 2022-23 package. 

7

YOUR 

TRUSTED 

INSURANCE 

BROKER 

Loyal supporters of local businesses and 

communities for over 90 years, we help our clients 

face the future with greater confidence. 

THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927. 

Find out how our local 

brokers can support your 

business at ajg.com/uk 

Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 

Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland 

Company Number: SC108909. FP900-2022a Exp 15.06.2023 | ARTUK-4318 

9

NEWCASTLE RUGBY 

FOUNDATION LAUNCHES 

RUGBY+ 

Newcastle Rugby Foundation (registered charity. No 1107861) proudly 

launched their new purpose and strategy which is making rugby+ the 

positive difference that changes lives for good. 

A fantastic breakfast event was hosted by Jill Douglas alongside 

Newcastle Rugby Foundation ambassador and former Newcastle and 

England great, Tony Underwood. 

They were joined by a Falcons great Rob Vickers, Newcastle Rugby 

chairman Semore Kurdi, ex-Scotland international Nathan Hines, 

Newcastle Thunder head coach Chris Thorman and Newcastle 

Falcons star Gary Graham and Trevor Davison. 

The event was a brilliant opportunity for the foundation to share their 

vision for the charity’s future- boosting wellbeing, growing skills, 

raising involvement and building a sense of belonging. 

The event saw special guest participants and foundation champions 

John Mew, Ali Riswan, Gill Harrowell, Amelia Hawkins, Josh Priest, 

Katie Coburn, Helin Gharib, Millie Robson, James Britton and Josh 

Evans take to the stage to share how they have benefitted from the 

foundation and their programmes. 

Newcastle Rugby Foundation would like to thank everyone who 

attended and showed their support for the launch of RUGBY+, with 

an amazing 140 guests helping play an instrumental part in making 

the morning so special. 

Melanie Magee, head of Newcastle Rugby Foundation, said: “I felt 

privileged to be in the room with such amazing people. Our dedicated 

staff work tirelessly to ensure we help those most in need in our 

communities and it was inspiring to see so many people tell their 

unique stories of how rugby has helped them.” 

HITZ STUDENT JOSH UP FOR 

NATIONAL AWARD 

An incredible individual from Falcons Community’s HITZ programme, 

Josh Evans, had his achievements on and off the pitch recognised 

at the Premiership Rugby HITZ Awards on Tuesday at Twickenham 

Stadium. 

Falcons Community HITZ programme, in partnership with Newcastle 

College, is an education and employability course that aims to reengage 

young people using sports as a vehicle. 

Josh was shortlisted for the Academic Achiever Award; an award 

for the journey a young person on HITZ has taken in their academic 

development. It recognises the pathway a learner has taken since 

joining the programme and how far they have travelled. 

Josh Struggled with poor mental health which resulted in him leaving 

school with no GCSEs and no desire for college. An ambition to 

become a firefighter like his uncle led Josh to enrol at HITZ to study 

uniformed protective services. In addition to his full-time course, 

where he is on Level 3 Fire and Policing, Josh commits to multiple 

volunteer roles including with his local lifeboat service whilst working 

part-time. 

FALCONS FIT 

Falcons Fit, supported by Heart of the Tyne, is our brand-new heart 

health and physical wellbeing programme, starting in January 2023. 

A 12-week programme running every Wednesday between 6:30-8pm 

at Kingston Park, it is aimed at individuals aged 18 and over looking to 

improve their heart health. 

Falcons Fit is designed to help educate participants on health 

interventions and lifestyle adjustments to help promote heart 

health. The programme consists of rugby-themed physical activity 

and healthy lifestyle workshops, with a focus on reducing the risk 

of heart disease. 

To register your interest in Falcons Fit please email 

falconscommunity@newcastle-falcons.co.uk. 

10 11

QUIZ TIME 

Test your knowledge on all things rugby with our ten-question teaser. Answers are 

upside down at the bottom of the page. 

Sell My Car 

Sell your car to Pulman 

in 3 simple steps. 

Q1 Which former Newcastle Falcons and 

Exeter Chiefs player signed for Perpignan 

last summer? 

Q2 Which Newcastle Falcons player is 

pictured here? 

Q6 The Waratahs play their home games in 

which city? 

Q7 Which former Northumbria University 

student is now Exeter Chiefs’ head coach? 

Q8 Which England international is pictured 

here? 

Enter Registration 

Find Your Car 

Q3 Which North East rugby club’s badge is a 

monkey being hung? 

At Pulman, we are looking to 

buy your car. 

Visit: 

PulmanSellMyCar.co.uk 

Sell your car in 3 simple steps. 

From your family owned 

Volkswagen Group retailer 

across the North East. 

Receive an instant 

online valuation. 

Sell your car to us. 

Drop off your car and 

collect your payment. 

Q4 Ian Foster is the head coach of which 

national team? 

Q5 Which Newcastle Falcons player’s name is 

an anagram of ‘Icy Human Lego’? 

Q9 Which Newcastle Falcons forward played 

against Portugal last week? 

Q10 How many Irish provinces play in the 

United Rugby Championship? 

Pulman 

Delivering a fantastic customer experience. 

ANSWERS: 1 Will Witty, 2 Richard Palframan, 3 Hartlepool Rovers, 4 New Zealand, 5 Michael 

Young, 6 Sydney, 7 Ali Hepher, 8 Mako Vunipola, 9 Greg Peterson, 10 Four. 

13

BRETT CONNON 

“ 

I was the 

classic 

junior fan, I’d 

spend ages 

waiting for 

autographs 

Newcastle Falcons’ Cumbrian cohort has been on the rise in 

recent years, with fly-half Brett Connon one of the principal 

standard bearers. 

The Carlisle native, 26, has now scored 321 points in his 74 games 

for the club, fulfilling a boyhood dream in the process. 

“My brothers and I would all jump on the bus to come and watch 

Newcastle Falcons when we were kids,” reveals Connon, who 

kicked five from five in the club’s last Gallagher Premiership 

outing, a 27-21 away win over Gloucester. 

“I was the classic junior fan, and I’d spend ages waiting outside 

the tunnel to get the players’ autographs after the games. I did 

some of the junior kicking camps at the club where they’d have 

the likes of Matt Burke and Jonny Wilkinson doing some coaching, 

and I loved coming and watching the games here.” 

The youngest of three siblings who attended Austin Friars school 

in Carlisle, he says: “I have two older brothers, Max and Grant, who 

both play rugby. They keep telling me they made my professional 

career by giving me a kicking in the back garden when we were 

kids, but there was always a big interest in rugby among the 

family. 

“My dad played county rugby for Cumbria and Westmorland, as 

it was known back then, my brothers and I all played mini rugby 

with Carlisle and we’d spend ages having kicking competitions 

and that sort of thing. I was just constantly trying to copy my older 

brothers to try and get better than them.” 

Travelling down the A69 as a young player, Connon recalls: “My 

first involvement as a player here was when I was 14 or 15, and we 

did a couple of camps as well as playing games against Leeds and 

Sale. From there it was into the junior academy where I trained 

twice a week until the age of 18, and signing senior academy 

terms from there. 

“I did a leadership and management degree through the Rugby 

Players’ Association as well as playing full-time rugby, and I’ve also 

started doing my exams to become a financial planner alongside 

my Falcons commitments.” 

Capped by Ireland at Under-20s level, the stand-off’s connection 

to the Emerald Isle comes from his dad, saying: “My father’s side 

of the family are from over in Dublin, and my brother played for 

Ireland Under-18s. 

“We had the Under-20s World Cup in England the year I played for 

them, which was great because it meant my family could come 

and watch. We got beaten by England in the final, but we did 

beat England in the Six Nations that year when we played them 

at Kingston Park. Callum Chick was playing for England that night 

14 15

Another team 

you can count on 

Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital 

and was actually my house-mate at the time, so there was a bit of 

chat flying around as you can imagine!” 

Part of a Falcons side which this season has seen a re-jigged 

coaching set-up, Connon believes the renewed focus on attack is 

now starting to pay dividends. 

“We’re scoring more four-try bonus points than we have done in 

the past, and I think that’s largely down just to things starting to 

click,” he says. 

“Over the last few years we’ve had moments in games or patches 

during the season where things come together for us, and I feel 

like we’re starting to get there again. We’ve got a group here now 

which we can really push on with for the future, and we’re making 

some positive steps.” 

With Dave Walder as head coach and Mark Laycock now tasked 

with helping shape the team’s attack, Connon has high praise for 

his former academy manager. 

“Marko is massively influential on the team, and on me personally,” 

he says. 

“I’ve worked with him from the age of 14, and I’m so comfortable 

talking to him about everything. 

“The knowledge that he and Dave bring to the table is huge for us, 

and between them they cover all the bases. They’re both full of 

ideas, and throughout all the age-grade and A-League times when 

I’ve been working with Marko he’s absolutely fantastic with the 

approach and the detail that he brings to it.” 

As ever the holy grail in rugby remains consistency, with the 

disappointment of defeat at home to Bath being followed just 

under a fortnight ago by the battling victory at Gloucester, when 

Connon and his charges had to fight on with two men down due to 

multiple second-half sin-binnings. 

“It’s hard in a way to explain how you can go from the Bath 

performance to the Gloucester performance in the space of a 

week, but I think it comes down to small details,” he says. 

“We actually started alright against Bath but it was our own errors 

which allowed them back into the game, whereas at Gloucester 

those problems got bottled up or stamped on straightaway. 

We pride ourselves on our attitude, which was a big part of the 

problem against Bath, but at Gloucester everybody was spot-on 

and we found a way to deal with the challenges which inevitably 

get thrown at you during a game. 

“It was a special day because we had to dig so deep for it, and we 

had a good away support which really got behind the lads. It was 

great to be able to go and celebrate with those guys after the final 

whistle, and I guess it’s just a case of keeping focused and making 

sure it’s not an isolated result. 

“The fact that we twice went down to 13 men was a major 

challenge, and everyone battled for each other. We do have 

training scenarios where we have people in the sin bin, which is 

fine, but to be honest in that 13-man situation a lot of it just comes 

We’ve been providing outstanding private healthcare to people in the 

North East for over 40 years. You can trust our team of dedicated experts 

who offer a wide range of treatments including: 

• Hip and knee surgery 

• Joint preservation surgery 

• Cataract surgery 

• Neck and spinal surgery 

• Men’s health – bladder and prostate 

• Women’s health – breast screening. 

To find out more call 0808 149 3239 

or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/newcastle-upon-tyne 

“My first 

involvement as a 

player here was 

when I was 14 or 

15.” 

17

“We pride ourselves on 

our attitude.” 

down to how hard you’re prepared to work for your mates. There 

are going to be spaces in your defence which need to be filled, but 

the lads dug in and really grafted. 

“The effort, desire and attitude was incredible, and the sense of 

relief and excitement at the end was obvious when Sam Stuart 

hugged the referee by mistake!” 

Turning to tonight’s assignment against the Chiefs, 

it was Connon who kicked the crucial penalty the 

last time Newcastle won in Devon just over a year 

ago. 

“They’re great to have around and they understand the game really well, so it’s good to 

have them back to add to the guys who did so well in their absence. The contribution 

they all made in that Bristol game before they went away was exceptional, and I’m sure 

they’ll have a big part to play for us over the rest of the season.” 

Turning to the wider issues surrounding the sport at a time when headlines are being 

made for all manner of reasons, Connon does not fall into the category of people saying 

the game is in crisis. 

“Rugby feels like it’s in a bit of a weird place at the moment because things are happening 

off the field and you hear people saying the sport’s in turmoil, but then you watch the 

actual games and they’re generally brilliant entertainment. 

“The Premiership games this season have been outstanding for the most part, and a 

lot of the international stuff during the summer and the November tests has also been 

great. Obviously the behind-the-scenes stuff is causing a stir, but as players if you just 

ignore the media narrative around that I actually feel like the game is in a good place. 

“Players want to put on a show for the fans, and for the most part I think as a sport we 

are doing that. We obviously hope more clubs don’t find themselves in difficulty like 

Wasps and Worcester did, because this is such a great league and people love playing 

in it and watching it.” 

“You know what you’re going to get with Exeter, and 

they play a good brand of rugby,” he says. 

“They’re a big physical pack with threats right across the board, 

and we obviously know Josh Hodge from his time up here with us. 

“We had a good away win down there last season – our first ever 

victory at Exeter – so we know we can do it. 

“The pre-requisite is making sure that you turn up with the right 

mind-set for the physical battle, and once you’ve got that base 

line you need to make sure your tactical side is tidied up. We did 

both of those things down at Gloucester last weekend, and when 

our backs were against the wall we stuck together to get the 

result.” 

The end of the international window sees Newcastle able to 

call upon their Argentina contingent, with Matias Morini, Mateo 

Carreras and Matias Orlando having all been away with their 

country. 

So how does Connon approach the communication side of things 

when most of his back-line might be Spanish speakers? 

“We chat as a group, and luckily their English is really good – 

definitely better than my Spanish! 

18 19

PLAYER STATS 

Name 

Falcons 

career 

apps 


career 

points 


career 

tries 

Season 

2022-23 

apps 

Season 

2022-23 

points 

Season 

2022-23 

tries 

Name 


career 

apps 


career 

points 


career 

tries 

Season 

2022-23 

apps 

Season 

2022-23 

points 

Season 

2022-23 

tries 

Josh Barton 5 5 1 5 5 1 Tom Marshall 11 5 1 4 0 0 

George Bennett-Teare 3 0 0 2 0 0 George McGuigan 163 235 47 8 30 6 

Jamie Berrisford 1 0 0 1 0 0 Oliver Melville 1 0 0 1 0 0 

James Blackett 5 3 0 3 3 0 George Merrick 13 0 0 8 0 0 

Jamie Blamire 72 75 15 9 15 3 Matias Moroni 2 0 0 2 0 0 

Phil Brantingham 7 0 0 5 0 0 Logovi'i Mulipola 66 20 4 5 5 1 

Adam Brocklebank 82 0 0 6 0 0 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti 32 15 3 4 0 0 

Conrad Cade 9 0 0 5 0 0 Elliott Obatoyinbo 5 10 2 5 10 2 

Mateo Carreras 22 35 7 5 25 5 Chidera Obonna 5 5 1 0 0 0 

Callum Chick 111 90 18 5 5 1 Matias Orlando 23 10 2 2 0 0 

Jeremy Civil 2 0 0 2 0 0 Richard Palframan 15 0 0 7 0 0 

Sam Clark 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tom Penny 79 50 10 6 10 2 

Connor Collett 25 10 2 6 5 1 Guy Pepper 4 5 1 4 5 1 

Brett Connon 74 321 2 6 37 0 Josh Peters 3 5 1 3 5 1 

Luke Coulston 1 0 0 1 0 0 Greg Peterson 61 15 3 5 0 0 

Matthew Dalton 6 0 0 4 0 0 Vereimi Qorowale 2 5 1 2 5 1 

Trevor Davison 97 20 4 4 0 0 Adam Radwan 78 230 46 8 15 3 

Sebastien de Chaves 23 0 0 8 0 0 Mike Rewcastle 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Matt Deehan 3 0 0 2 0 0 Sean Robinson 133 65 13 7 0 0 

Mark Dormer 3 0 0 3 0 0 Tian Schoeman 8 30 0 8 30 0 

Ben Douglas 3 0 0 2 0 0 Charlie Smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Nathan Earle 15 20 4 4 5 1 Oliver Spencer 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Carl Fearns 19 5 1 0 0 0 Iwan Stephens 10 20 4 4 5 1 

Ollie Fletcher 4 5 1 3 5 1 Ben Stevenson 55 80 18 6 0 0 

Gary Graham 88 80 16 0 0 0 Sam Stuart 67 30 6 5 0 0 

Ewan Greenlaw 4 0 0 4 0 0 Alex Tait 265 200 40 5 10 2 

Nathan Greenwood 1 5 1 1 5 1 Mark Tampin 63 0 0 10 0 0 

Will Hopes 2 0 0 2 0 0 Josh Thomas 3 10 0 3 10 0 

Louie Johnson 4 8 0 3 8 0 Marcus Tiffen 5 10 2 4 5 1 

Conor Kenny 4 0 0 3 0 0 Philip van der Walt 35 10 2 0 0 0 

Zach Kerr 10 10 2 4 5 1 George Wacokecoke 63 80 16 6 5 1 

Freddie Lockwood 15 0 0 5 0 0 Rory Ward 3 0 0 3 0 0 

Pete Lucock 32 5 1 6 0 0 Will Welch 275 90 18 4 0 0 

Charlie Maddison 23 5 1 6 0 0 Michael Young 187 100 20 4 0 0

SEASONAL HOSPITALITY GUESTS 

EXECUTIVE BOXES 

INTERNATIONAL SUITE 

Kinetic Properties 

The Mortal Man 

My Name’5 Doddie 

MCM Group 

RMT Accountants 

PREMIER CLUB 

Geoff Penrice 

Stelrad 

Countryside Civils 

TyneMet College 

Sintons 

FIFTEEN AT THE FALCONS 

Northumbria University - Jennie Barton 

Alan Taylor 

Gosforth Estates - Sheila Barnes 

Kai Whiting 

The Gillespies 

Jack & Jonquil Stewart 

Warren Butterworth 

Wade Brown 

Kev & Margie Wilson 

Alex Scott Cars 

Pulman 

Border Stone Quarries 

Knowledge Spiral 

Ivanhoe Forge 

Castle Building 

Dynamic Surface Repair 

UK Land Estates 

Railview 

100 CLUB 

Sage 

OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNERS 

HERE AT KINGSTON PARK WE OFFER 

FIRST-CLASS HOSPITALITY AT ALL OUR 

FALCONS HOME GAMES. 

HOSTED BY OUR WELCOMING AND 

FRIENDLY TEAM WE PROVIDE GREAT 

RUGBY AND SO MUCH MORE. 

22 

FIND OUT MORE: 

PHONE: 0191 214 2892 EMAIL: CORPORATESALES@NEWCASTLE-FALCONS.CO.UK | W W W. N E W C A S T L E FA LC O N S .C O.UK

FIRST TEAM SQUAD 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

JOSH BARTON 

Scrum-half 

15/12/1997 

Height: 1.75m (5ft 8) 

Weight: 85kg (13st 5) 

JAMIE BLAMIRE 

Hooker 

22/12/1997 

Height: 1.85m (6ft) 


Honours: England 

ADAM BROCKLEBANK 

Prop 

06/09/1995 



Honours: England Students 

CONRAD CADE 

Prop 

27/01/1997 




PETE LUCOCK 

Centre 

27/11/1992 



CHARLIE MADDISON 

Hooker 

24/06/1991 



TOM MARSHALL 

Back row 

20/10/1999 



Honours: Scotland U20 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

GEORGE MCGUIGAN 

Hooker 

30/03/1993 



Honours: England A 

MATEO CARRERAS 

Wing 

17/12/1999 



Honours: Argentina 

CALLUM CHICK 

Back row 

25/11/1996 




Geoff & Marie 

Penrice 

CONNOR COLLETT 

Back row 

05/02/1996 



BRETT CONNON 

Fly-half 

29/08/1996 


Weight: 89kg (14st) 

Honours: Ireland U20 

GEORGE MERRICK 

Lock 

04/10/1992 



Honours: England U20 

MATIAS MORONI 

Centre 

10/07/1991 




LOGOVI’I MULIPOLA 

Prop 

11/03/1987 



Honours: Samoa 

1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

CAMERON NORDLI-KELEMETI 

Scrum-half 

20/09/1999 




MATTHEW DALTON 

Lock 

16/11/1998 




TREVOR DAVISON 

Prop 

20/08/1992 




SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES 

Lock 

30/10/1990 



Honours: South Africa U20 

NATHAN EARLE 

Wing 

25/09/1994 



Honours: England XV 

ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO 

Full-back/wing 

9/10/1998 




MATIAS ORLANDO 

Centre 

14/11/1991 




RICHARD PALFRAMAN 

Prop 

20/12/1993 



1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

TOM PENNY 

Full-back 

13/10/1994 



CARL FEARNS 

Back row 

28/05/1989 




GARY GRAHAM 

Back row 

29/08/1992 



Honours: Scotland 

CONOR KENNY 

Prop 

25/07/1996 




FREDDIE LOCKWOOD 

Back row 

31/12/2000 




JOSH PETERS 

Lock 

10/12/1995 



Honours: Spain 

GREG PETERSON 

Lock 

26/03/1991 



Honours: USA 

VEREIMI QOROWALE 

Wing/centre 

27/01/1995 



ADAM RADWAN 

Wing 

30/12/1997 




24 25 

The 

Blackbirds

MOTOR GROUP 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

SEAN ROBINSON 

Lock 

08/02/1991 




TIAN SCHOEMAN 

Fly-half 

23/09/1991 

Height: 1.82m (5ft 10) 


IWAN STEPHENS 

Wing 

24/03/2002 




BEN STEVENSON 

Wing/centre 

19/07/1998 




SCOTT MACLEOD 

Coach 

Geoff & Marie 

Penrice 

JOHN STOKOE 

Team manager 

KEVIN MCSHANE 

Head of athletic performance 

LEWIS WILLIAMS 

Strength and conditioning coach 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

SAM STUART 

Scrum-half 

27/09/1991 




ALEX TAIT 

Full-back 

18/03/1988 




Jack & Jonquil 

Stewart 

MARK TAMPIN 

Prop 

20/01/1992 



JOSH THOMAS 

Fly-half 

30/06/2000 



Honours: Wales U20 

TIM PAYNE 

Strength and conditioning coach 

STEVE BREMNER 

Opposition and recruitment 

analyst 

MATT HODKINSON 

Tactical analyst 

RHYS GRIFFITHS 

Head physio 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

PHILIP VAN DER WALT 

Back-row 

14/07/1989 



GEORGE WACOKECOKE 

Centre 

23/10/1995 




WILL WELCH 

Back row 

03/04/1990 




MICHAEL YOUNG 

Scrum-half 

31/12/1988 




ANDY SHEA 

Physio 

DERMOT AUSTIN 

Physio 

TOBY TREMLETT 

Physio 

RACHEL SCURFIELD 

Lead doctor 

FIRST TEAM STAFF 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

DAVE WALDER 

Head coach 

MARK LAYCOCK 

Coach 

MICKY WARD 

Coach 

MARK WILSON 

Coach 

DEAN SHIPSEY 

Match-day doctor 

ANDY RAMSHAW 

Match-day doctor 

ANDREW CRUICKSHANK 

Psychologist 

ALAN BASKERVILLE 

Kit manager 

26 27

SENIOR ACADEMY SQUAD & ACADEMY STAFF 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 1. 1. 

JAMES BLACKETT 

Scrum-half 

22/10/2001 




1. 

PHIL BRANTINGHAM 

Prop 

02/10/2001 




JEREMY CIVIL 

Centre 

02/05/2004 



LUKE COULSTON 

Lock 

17/07/2004 

Height: 2m (6ft 6) 



MARCUS TIFFEN 

Back row 

03/09/2002 



SAM CLARK 

Prop 

31/1/2004 

Height: 1.84m (6 ft) 


OLIVER SPENCER 

Full-back 

22/2/2004 




1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

MATT DEEHAN 

Back row 

04/10/2002 



Honours: Scotland U20 

MARK DORMER 

Prop 

16/09/2002 




BEN DOUGLAS 

Scrum-half 

16/01/2004 




Joan 

Milne 

OLLIE FLETCHER 

Hooker 

09/09/2002 




1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

JAMES PONTON 

Head of academy 

PJ BUTLER 

Academy coach 

JACK HAYES 

Academy coach 

KEITH ROBINSON 

Academy DPP manager 

EWAN GREENLAW 

Centre 

14/03/2003 




NATHAN GREENWOOD 

Wing 

20/11/2003 



Honours: England 7s 

LOUIE JOHNSON 

Fly-half 

13/06/2003 




ZACH KERR 

Centre/wing 

13/12/1999 



MICHAEL FERGUSON 

Head academy strength and 

conditioning coach 

SHAUN MCLAREN 

Junior academy strength and 

conditioning coach 

NICK TODD 

Academy performance analyst 

FRAZER BELL 

Senior academy physio 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 1. 

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER EMAIL 

CORPORATESALES@NEWCASTLE-FALCONS.CO.UK 

CHIDERA OBONNA 

Centre/wing 

18/10/2000 




GUY PEPPER 

Back row 

15/04/2003 




MIKE REWCASTLE 

Prop 

17/05/2004 




CHARLIE SMITH 

Hooker 

19/01/2004 




CAIN WILKINSON 

Junior academy physio 

28 29

FROM THE PRESS BOX 

By Mark Smith 

Newcastle Falcons media manager 

Reasons to be cheerful – to quote Ian Dury and the Blockheads. 

It feels at times like this column has become a forum with which to batter 

rugby for its various perceived failings. 

That was never the intention, even if I make no apologies for shining a light 

on areas where our sport can improve. 

But it’s only right and proper that we take the time to also acknowledge the 

many good things going on around the sport at the moment. 

Portugal qualifying for the Rugby World Cup, for example. 

Many in the game, including our own Greg Peterson, would have been 

disappointed by the failure of the USA to qualify for a tournament which 

they will be hosting in 2031, but what a great opportunity we now have to 

further spread the rugby gospel in Portugal. 

You could not have wished for a more dramatic decider, with a last-minute 

penalty clinching their passage to France 2023 after a drop-goal had hit the 

post just seconds earlier. It was high drama and a major talking point. 

Upsets in the autumn tests. We had Italy beating Australia, and then Georgia 

beating Wales. 

These days you’d have to question whether Argentina defeating England 

at Twickenham could be regarded as a shock result, given that they won 

away against the All Blacks earlier this year, but the notion that rugby is 

predictable has been blown out of the water. 

For all the off-field travails, this season’s Gallagher Premiership has lacked 

nothing for on-field drama. 

Despite the bookies giving Gloucester a 14-point handicap it was a dogged 

Newcastle Falcons side who were belting out their victory song in the 

bowels of Kingsholm Stadium after the final whistle in our last league game, 

adding to the long list of Premiership thrillers this campaign. 

Our previous league outing saw us taking a pair of bonus points from a 

thrilling 32-31 loss at a Northampton side who sit in the top three in the 

division, with Mateo Carreras winning Try of the Month for the second time 

in succession. 

As always it’s a case of living within our means here at Newcastle, but even 

without the shiny trinkets and a team sheet full of Galacticos we continue to 

showcase the best local talent interspersed with quality from further afield. 

A local teenager in Guy Pepper has started our last three games and taken 

the opportunity with both hands, and they’re a fabulous bunch to work with. 

There’s not an ego among the lot of them, and when the team bus got stuck 

in traffic on the long drive to Gloucester they decided to have a sing-song 

rather than moan about their travelling conditions. 

The effort and attention to detail among the current coaching group is 

superior to anything I’ve seen in my two decades in and around the club, and 

despite a number of factors making it a challenging time for attendances 

there seems to be an appreciation of the progress being made against 

bigger-spending opposition. 

Of course, we can all draw on our own little gripes and spend time lamenting 

the negatives, which are inevitably there if you look hard enough for them. 

But maybe it’s worth devoting equal attention to the things which are great 

about our game, and this club. 

31

AS CAPABLE ON-ROAD 

AS OFF IT 

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Defender 110 in mpg (I/100km): Combined 113.0-18.7 (2.5-15.1). CO 2 Emissions 57-340 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. 

CO 2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment and accessories fitted. Off-road sequences on dedicated land with full permissions.

TACKLE 

YOUR TALENT 

STRATEGY 

Talent scarcity is happening right now 

causing real shortages in every sector 

of the UK economy. 

Delivering a better employee experience is 

critical to attract, engage and retain the talent 

you need to grow and succeed. 

Gallagher is helping organisations and their 

people to feel different about work. 

Let Gallagher help you. 


ajg.com/uk/employeebenefits-consulting/ 

E: sayhello@ajg.com 

T: +44 (0)20 7204 8990 

Gallagher and Gallagher Employee Benefits are trading names of Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial 

Conduct Authority. Not all business carried out by the company is regulated. Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial 

Conduct Authority. Registered Office: The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AW. Registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 

1193013. FP900-2022b Exp 15.06.2023 | ARTUK-4318

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS 

Kingsley Hyland’s trawl through 

the archives continues, recalling 

key moments from 45, 30 and 10 

years ago. 

45 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 26, 1977 

GOSFORTH 46-6 ORRELL 

Gosforth were celebrating their Centenary season and basking in the 

glow of being national club champions for the second year running as 

they faced Orrell, a rising force in the game from Wigan. 

Such had been Orrell’s start to the season - winning 12 of 15 matches 

and scoring 461 points while conceding just 101 - that the national 

rugby press sensed an upset and a changing of the natural order at 

the top of northern club rugby. 

For Gosforth, the break-up of their double John Player Cup winning 

side had begun with Steve Gustard, Harry Patrick, Andy Cutter, Dave 

Robinson and Roger Uttley all absent from the starting line-up. 

If there was a sense of foreboding in the home camp it was quickly 

banished as Gosforth completely outplayed their rivals, inflicting on 

them the biggest defeat in their 50 year existence. 

Seven tries were scored in all against an Orrell side whose line 

had not been crossed in their previous five matches. The famous 

Gosforth backrow triumvirate of Dixon, Robinson and Uttley may 

have been broken up, but Bob Anderson and Ian ‘Sniffer’ Richardson 

proved worthy partners for Peter Dixon on this occasion. 

For the record, the tries were scored by Stuart Archer (2), Terry 

Roberts, Brian Patrick (2), Dixon and Richardson. Malcolm Young 

kicked four conversions and two penalties, and David Johnson two 

conversions. 

For Gosforth, a period or rebuilding would be rewarded with another 

cup run to the final in 1981 before decline set in, whilst Orrell went 

on to become the dominant northern force in English club rugby in 

the 1980s and early 1990s. 

One can only imagine what Orrell might have achieved had they 

evaded the clutches of the predatory rugby league clubs. 

The match had been preceded by an under-14s game between the 

two clubs. All four of the Orrell three-quarters in that game would 

go on to represent Great Britain at rugby league. 

The Gosforth team that day was: B.Patrick; S.Archer; R.Breakey; 

K.Britton; A.Moor; D.Johnson; M.Young; C.White; D.Madsen; 

A.Johnson; T.Roberts; J.Hedley; I.Richardson; R.Anderson; P.Dixon. 

As ever, victory was based on a dominant forward effort which wore 

down the opposition before a flurry of scoring, with 36 of Gosforth’s 

points coming in the second half. 

Starved of good quality ball, Orrell elected to run everything, which 

played into the home side’s hands. 

Brian Patrick 

38 39


NEWCASTLE GOSFORTH 13-10 GLOUCESTER 

A crowd of over 2,000 were at Kingston Park for a 

Pilkington Cup third round tie against first division 

Gloucester. 

Newcastle went into the game on a high having 

beaten Sale, Waterloo, Nottingham, Blackheath, 

Coventry and Morley in their first six league 

matches en-route to promotion. 

They entered the cup in the second round, securing 

a comfortable 36-8 victory at Northamptonshire 

junior club Towcestrians. Their only defeat in 14 

matches came in a pre-season tour match against 

Ballymena. 

Gloucester were not the force they had been in 

the 1970s and 80s but they had retained their topflight 

status since the introduction of leagues, 

and still boasted a massive pack of forwards. 

The match involved a forward battle with 

Gloucester dominating the lineouts, albeit with a 

strong suspicion of lifting by the props, which was 

not permitted back then. 

Gloucester scored first with a 16th minute penalty 

from Martin Roberts, but penalties from David 

Johnson on 22 and 34 minutes gave the home side 

the advantage at 6-3. The lead was short lived as 

prop Tony Windo went over for a try, converted by 

Roberts as half-time approached. 

The game was eventually decided by a controversial 

Terry Roberts try in the 50th minute. 

An at tacking lineout was secured by a kick-andchase 

from fullback Ian Chandler, which Martin 

Roberts was forced to scramble into touch. The 

ball went loose from the resulting line-out, and 

Roberts was deemed to have grounded the bal 

l over the line despite a suspicion that the ball 

had gone forward off a Newcastle player. Johnson 

converted from wide out, and that was to prove 

the end of the scoring. 

Roberts had of course scored in that match 

against Orrell 15 years earlier, and would go on to 

represent the club in the First Division at the age 

of 44. 

The final half-hour witnessed a magnificent 

defensive effort by the home side, who restricted 

Gloucester to a long-range penalty attempt from 

Roberts and an attempted drop-goal from fly half 

Neil Matthews. 

The Newcastle Gosforth team that day was: 

I.Chandler; T.Penn; R.Wilkinson; A.Campbell 

(rep.M.Beattie 29); M.White; D.Johnson; S.Douglas; 

R.Fuller; N.Frankland (capt); S.Gibbs; T.Roberts; 

G.Clark; P.Smith (rep.F.Mitchell 67); A.Meadows. 

The victory gave Newcastle belief that if they 

were to secure promotion they would be able to 

survive in the top tier. That belief was severely 

punctured in the fourth round as they crashed to 

a 33-3 defeat at Northampton. 

POWERING SMALL BUSINESSES 

AND THE RUGBY COMMUNITY 

We’ve partnered with Premiership Rugby to celebrate the small business 

and rugby communities, and show how living your values brings success 

on and off the pitch. 

Funding Circle is the UK’s #1 platform for business finance. To see how you 

could get a lending hand, visit fundingcircle.com 

“Excellent” 

Based on 12,745 reviews 

Neil Frankland 

40 41


JERSEY 3-24 NEWCASTLE FALCONS 

Fast-forward 20 years from that Gloucester game, and the 

club was once again en-route to promotion under the fledgling 

directorship of Dean Richards. 

By virtue of this bonus-point victory, the Falcons moved 

13 points clear of second-placed Bedford at the top of the 

Championship. 

Despite the score-line in what was Alex Tait’s 100th appearance 

for the club, the Falcons initially met firm resistance from an 

impressive Jersey set piece. 

After early Falcons’ pressure had seen Matt Thompson held up 

over the line, the first score went to the home side when Barry 

Davies kicked a 17th minute penalty following a scrum offence, 

having earlier missed with an ambitious effort from halfway. 

The momentum remained with Jersey as Donovan Sanders 

went close after chasing a Davies kick ahead. 

Having weathered the early storm the visitors gradually 

wrested the initiative and edged ahead on 38 minutes with a 

try from Jimmy Gopperth. A kickable penalty was sent to the 

corner, the forwards secured possession enabling scrum-half 

Warren Fury to feed Gopperth, who side-stepped the last 

defender to score for a 5-3 half-time lead. 

The Falcons struck again within two minutes of the restart 

when winger Ryan Shortland crossed after receiving a delayed 

pass from Gopperth, who converted to extend the lead to 12-3. 

They looked to have scored again just four minutes later when 

Luke Fielden went over, only to be called back for a forward 

pass. 

The Falcons were not to be denied for long as prop James Hall 

scored from a pick-and-go after Ally Hogg had secured the ball 

from a line-out. Gopperth’s conversion extended the lead to 

19-3 with almost three quarters of the match played. 

The bonus-point try, fittingly scored by centurion Tait, came 

with five minutes remaining following a break by Gopperth, 

with the ball carried on by Alex Crockett who fed Tait to 

squeeze in at the corner. 

The Falcons team that day was: A.Tait; L.Fielden; A.Crockett; 

J.Helleur; R.Shortland; J.Gopperth; W.Fury; G.Shiells; 

M.Thompson; J.Hall; S.Tomes; S.Macleod; C.York; M.Wilson; 

A.Hogg. 

Of that side Alex Tait is still playing now way past his 200th 

match for his only club, whilst Mark Wilson and Scott MacLeod 

are part of the coaching team. Gopperth of course still playing 

in the Premiership at Leicester, having arrived via Leinster and 

Wasps. 

Ryan Shortland 

Alex Tait 

42 43

FIXTURES & RESULTS 

AUGUST 

F: Fri Aug 26 v Leicester Tigers(L 42-28) 

SEPTEMBER 

F: Fri Sep 2 v Doncaster Knights (W 29-33) 

GP: SAT SEP 10 V HARLEQUINS (L 31-40) 

GP: Sat Sep 17 v Leicester Tigers (L 36-21) 

PRC: Tue Sep 20 v Wasps (L 35-21) 

GP: Sat Sep 24 v Worcester Warriors (L 39-5) 

PRC: TUE SEP 27 V SALE SHARKS (L 21-29) 

GP: FRI SEP 30 V BRISTOL BEARS (W 30-15) 

OCTOBER 

GP: SUN OCT 9 V SARACENS (L 14-34) 

GP: Sat Oct 15 v Northampton Saints (L 32-31) 

PRC: Wed Oct 19 v Leicester Tigers (W 31-32) 

NOVEMBER 

GP: SAT NOV 5 V BATH RUGBY (L 10-17) 

GP: Sat Nov 12 v Gloucester Rugby (W 21-27) 

PRC: SAT NOV 19 V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (L 28-31) 

GP: FRI NOV 25 V EXETER CHIEFS (7.45pm) 

DECEMBER 

GP: Sat Dec 3 v London Irish (3pm) 

ECC: Sat Dec 10 v Connacht (5.30pm) 

ECC: SAT DEC 17 v CARDIFF (5.30pm) 

GP: FRI DEC 23 V SALE SHARKS (7.45pm) 

GP: Sat Dec 31 v Bath Rugby (3pm) 

NEXT TIME AT KP 

V CARDIFF RUGBY 

SAT Dec 17th 

EPCR Challenge Cup 

Kick-off: 5:30 pm 

JANUARY 

GP: SAT JAN 7 V LEICESTER TIGERS (2pm, BT Sport) 

ECC: Sun Jan 15 v Cardiff (1pm) 

ECC: SAT JAN 21 v CONNACHT (5.30pm) 

FEBRUARY 

GP: Feb 17/18/19 v Bristol Bears 

GP: Feb 24/25/26 v Saracens 

MARCH 

GP: MAR 3/4/5 V LONDON IRISH 

GP: Mar 10/11/12 v Exeter Chiefs 

GP: Mar 24/25/26 V GLOUCESTER 

APRIL 

ECC: Mar 31/Apr 1/2: Round of 16 

ECC: Apr 7/8/9: Quarter-final 

GP: Apr 14/15/16 v Harlequins 

GP: APR 21/22/23 V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 

ECC: Apr 28/29/30: Semi-final 

MAY 

GP: SAT MAY 6 v Sale Sharks 

GP: SAT MAY 13: Semi-final 

ECC: Fri May 19: Final 

GP: Sat May 27: Final 

PLAY LIKE 

THE PROS 

OFFICIAL 

RUGBY CAMPS 

Develop your rugby skills with players and coaches 

from England’s leading clubs. There are camps across 

the country for children aged 6-17. 

For more info visit WWW.RUGBYCAMPS.COM 

FOR 6-17 

YEAR OLDS 

44 

KEY: GP = Gallagher Premiership, ECC = EPCR Challenge Cup, PRC = Premiership Rugby Cup, F = Friendly. 

(Home games in capital letters)

More than just a racecourse 

Home of horse racing in Northumberland and Britain’s Most Scenic Racecourse, host 

to 15 days national hunt racing in 2022. Border and Haydon Point-to-Point 

Range of sponsorship and hospitality packages available for every meeting. 

Set in beautiful Northumbrian countryside the racecourse provides the ideal location 

for weddings, conferences and exhibitions. 

For all enquiries, ticket bookings and purchases contact the 

racecourse office 01434 606881, email 

admin@hexham-racecourse.co.uk or visit our website 

www.hexham-racecourse.co.uk 

Follow the racecourse on Facebook, 

Twitter @HexhamRaces, Instagram.

IN OPPOSITION - EXETER CHIEFS 

Full-back 

Stuart Hogg 

Exeter Chiefs come into this evening’s game placed at sixth in the 

Gallagher Premiership table, winning half of their eight games. 

An incredibly busy weekend sees them playing two games in 

less than 24 hours, as they host Bath in tomorrow’s Premiership 

Rugby Cup group encounter. 

A relatively low-key summer on the transfer market 

saw a handful of key men moving on, with England 

lock Jonny Hill moving to Sale Sharks and Scotland 

lock Sam Skinner signing for Edinburgh. Fellow 

second row and former Falcon Will Witty set 

sail for Perpignan, while back-rower Don 

Armand called time on his career. 

Premiership form as the Chiefs stormed the start of the season 

with three wins from three. 

Round one brought a dramatic home victory against the 

champions when a last-minute try handed them a 24-20 

triumph, and they followed that up with a 36-21 win at 

Worcester which has now been removed from the record 

books. 

A thrilling home game against Harlequins saw them leading 

31-7, somehow falling behind but then rescuing a 43-42 

victory with the very last play – Wales flanker Christ Tshiunza 

grounding the decisive try despite opposition claims of a 

forward pass in the build-up. 

50 

Scrum-half 

Jack Maunder 

Prop Harry 

Williams 

Super Rugby’s Moana Pasifika. 

Winger Tom O’Flaherty took his 

considerable talents to Sale Sharks, 

with well-travelled scrum-half 

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne joining Italian 

side Benetton. 

In came a host of players 

to help fill the gaps, with 

hard-running Tonga centre 

Solomone Kata joining from 

Leinster pair Jack Dunne and Rory O’Loughlin arrived as part of 

what has been a long and fruitful relationship with Irish players. 

South African lock Ruben van Heerden added considerable size 

having landed from the Bulls, with the flagship signing arguably 

coming in the form of vastly-experienced Australia prop Scott Sio. 

The early-season collapse of Wasps enabled opportunities for a 

quartet of promising players to be snapped up as Dan Frost, Alfie 

Bell, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Greg Fisilau were brought on 

board. 

Pre-season brought a pair of defeats to Cornish Pirates (42-14) and 

Ulster (31-12), but it did not affect their Gallagher 

A Premiership Rugby Cup trip to Bristol kept up the momentum 

as Exeter were 35-20 winners, and even when they lost 28-20 

away to Sale Sharks in the league they bounced back with a 

50-14 away thumping of Bristol. 

The cancellation of their game against Wasps meant a hastilyarranged 

friendly at home to Bristol Bears to plug the fixture 

gap, with a cancelled Cup trip to Worcester followed by another 

nail-biter at home to Saracens. 

It took a last-minute penalty from Alex Goode to hand Exeter a 

22-20 home loss, starting a run of three Premiership defeats. 

A Friday night trip to Gloucester ended with a 38-22 loss, and 

their last away game at Northampton three weeks ago saw 

them beaten 26-19. 

They regained winning ways by grinding out a 22-17 home win 

over London Irish in their most recent assignment, after which 

forwards coach Rob Hunter admitted he was a relieved man. 

He said: “I guess relief is a good way to put it. We put ourselves 

in a good position, particularly first half, but come the end you 

could say we were relieved to see that final whistle. We did a 

lot of good things, but we also managed to punch ourselves in 

the face a few times, so we’re happy to get the result.” 

51

IN OPPOSITION - THREE TO WATCH 

JACQUES VERMEULEN 

The South African back-rower is often the glue of the Chiefs’ pack, having 

arrived in 2019 from the Sharks. 

JOE SIMMONDS 

Able to be deployed at either fly-half or full-back, the Torquay-born 

player boasts more than 150 appearances for the Chiefs despite only 

being 25 years of age. 

Aged 27, Vermeulen played 38 times for the Sharks, scoring three tries, 

and has scored 20 tries in his 53 appearances for Exeter. 

A Western Province player earlier in his career, Vermeulen is a Premiership 

and Champions Cup winner from his time with the Chiefs. 

A solid goal-kicker, in 2020 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 

New Year’s honours list after captaining the Chiefs to victory in both 

the Heineken Champions Cup and Gallagher Premiership finals. 

The younger brother of Exeter and England back-rower Sam 

Simmonds, Joe is yet to be capped at full international level having 

played for England Under-20s on his way through the system. 

ALI HEPHER 

HEAD COACH 

A former Northumbria University student, Hepher played the majority of 

his rugby for Northampton Saints. 

SCOTT SIO 

The veteran Australian is a mid-season signing for the Chiefs, bringing 

with him 69 international caps worth of experience for the Wallabies. 

Now aged 31 but showing no signs of slowing down, Sio spent 12 seasons 

with the Brumbies in Canberra before heading north. 

A solid scrummager who is equally destructive in the loose, Sio has 

played more than 120 games of Super Rugby. 

Part of the squad which won the 2000 Heineken Cup, he was called up 

by England to tour South Africa that year, eventually going on to play for 

Bedford Blues. 

Starting his coaching journey with Northampton’s academy in 2006, 

Hepher moved to Exeter three years later and was a key member of the 

staff which helped them earn promotion into the top flight. 

IN 2017 he stepped up to head coach, and within the past year that job 

has seen him taking on greater responsibility on a match-day, with director 

of rugby Rob Baxter stepping back from that aspect of his role. 

53

CLUB NEWS 

The home of 

domestic rugby 

OBATOYINBO SIGNS UP FOR 

MORE 

Elliott Obatoyinbo will remain a Newcastle Falcons player until the 

end of next season after impressing during his short-term spell. 

The 24-year-old former Saracen has scored two tries in his five 

games since arriving in mid-September, starting at full-back in the 

recent 27-21 away win over Gloucester. 

Dotting down away to Leicester Tigers and at home to Sale Sharks 

in the Premiership Rugby Cup, the former Harrow and Stonyhurst 

school-boy said: “I’m really happy to have signed with the Falcons. 

“Everyone at the club has been very welcoming and I feel I have 

settled in quickly. There’s a lot of potential in the group and I’m 

excited about adding value to the team going forward.” 

Head coach Dave Walder said: “Elliott has fitted in well, he’s a skilful 

guy who beats players and he’s got that excitement factor about 

him. 

“He does the basics really well, he’s a positive character around the 

place and it’s great news for us that we have been able to extend 

his stay at the club.” 

SINFIELD MAKES KP STOP- 

OFF 

Newcastle Falcons players and supporters were on hand to greet 

Kevin Sinfield as his incredible fundraising challenge saw him stop 

off at Kingston Park Stadium last week. 

The rugby league legend, who now coaches at Leicester Tigers, ran 

seven ultra marathons in seven days, smashing his target of raising 

£777,777 for motor neurone disease charities - seven being the shirt 

number of his Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow. 

Kingston Park Stadium was plotted into the route in recognition of 

Doddie Weir’s links with Newcastle Falcons, whose entire playing 

squad interrupted their training day to give Sinfield and his team a 

guard of honour. Supporters, well-wishers and local school children 

were also on hand. 

Addressing the crowd, Sinfield said: “I can’t believe so many of you 

have come out in the pouring rain, but I’d have expected nothing 

less at a club with which Doddie Weir has been involved. 

“I’d like to thank the head coach Dave Walder for getting the 

Newcastle Falcons squad here on a busy training day, and for 

everyone else who has come along to support the cause.” 

Text Kevin to 70143 to donate £7. 

55

NORTHUMBERLAND RUGBY UNION 

BAY BELLES GO UNBEATEN 

From humble beginnings Whitley Bay Rockcliff U16s section has now grown 

very quickly to a squad of over 30 girls who have enjoyed what can only be 

described as a dream start to the season. 

As a team they have come together well, both on and off the pitch and have 

started to post some scores in matches. Whilst there is always room for 

improvement, seeing all boys out playing and enjoying encapsulates what is 

good about our game. They are starting to gel and both clubs could not be 

prouder of all their efforts and commitment. 

The girls were the only Northumberland team to venture South to the 

Stockton Festival where, against some stiff opposition, they ended the 

tournament unbeaten. They then backed this up in Northumberland at the 

Tynedale festival where they repeated the feat, once again being unbeaten 

across all their games. 

This has been an amazing unbeaten start to the season which is testament 

to the efforts of the coaches as well as all the players. 

BLYTON (ASHINGTON AND BLYTH 

U14S) 

Both Ashington and Blyth, as was the case for many other clubs, suffered 

a drop-off in numbers across a number of older ages groups during covid. 

Following the blueprint set out by other age grade teams in the County, this 

season they combined to form one U14s team. 

Combining teams is never easy and it has taken a big buy-in from clubs, 

parents/guardians, coaches and, most importantly, the players. 

They initially played four games against more established squads in Whitley 

Bay Rockliff, Northern, Gateshead and Alnwick in a cup game. Despite being 

well beaten in every game, the players never let their heads drop or stopped 

trying. They have embraced training and have started to enjoy playing for 

each other whilst all the time demonstrating all the TREDS principles. 

COUNTY RUGBY 

Congratulations to all the players who were successful in being nominated 

to be part of the squads for Northumberland RFU’s U18 Boys and Girls teams. 

Nominations will be opening shortly for the County U20s, and the new crop 

of players will have high standards to live up to after the success of the last 

group in winning the National Championship at Sixways Stadium last season. 

TEAM OF THE MONTH 

Northumberland RFU are once again indebted to Newcastle Falcons for their 

exceptionally generous support in providing the winners of the Team of the 

Month competition with the fabulous prize of 20 tickets at a Falcons home 

match of their choice. 

Entries will shortly be open for nominations for November and should 

be addressed to DeanGray@northumberlandrfu.co.uk . September and 

October’s winners were Whitley Bay Rockcliff U16 Girls and Blyton U14s. 

56

60 

PREMIERSHIP PREVIEWS 

TONIGHT 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS V EXETER CHIEFS 

Newcastle Falcons’ 27-21 victory at Gloucester in Round 10 ended a run of 

three successive defeats in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. 

Exeter Chiefs beat London Irish 22-17 in Round 10 to end a three-game losing 

streak in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Chiefs’ only victory in their last 

four away games in Premiership Rugby was 50-14 at Bristol on October 7. 

Exeter have lost only once to Newcastle in any competition since January 

2018, and that was by a solitary point at Sandy Park in November 2021. 

Exeter’s record at Kingston Park in Premiership Rugby is won eight, lost two. 

. 

Exeter full-back Josh Hodge 

HARLEQUINS V GLOUCESTER 

Harlequins have won their last two Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures, at 

Sale and at home to London Irish, and have not won three in succession in 

the competition since April. 

Harlequins have been defeated in two of their last four 

home games at the Twickenham Stoop in Premiership 

Rugby. 

Gloucester Rugby have lost their last two Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby matches, at Sale and at home to 

Newcastle. Gloucester have won twice away from home in 

Premiership Rugby this campaign, at Bath in Round 5 and at 

London Irish in Round 7. 

The Londoners have won their last six encounters with 

Gloucester in Premiership Rugby since Gloucester’s 29-7 

victory at the Stoop in March 2019. Gloucester have won 

only once at the Stoop in Premiership Rugby since 2006. 

TOMORROW 

Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees 

SALE SHARKS V BRISTOL BEARS 

Sale Sharks’ 27-17 victory at home to Gloucester in Round 

9 ended a two-game losing run in Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby. 

The Sharks’ solitary defeat at Salford City Stadium in 

their last seven Premiership Rugby fixtures was 13-29 to 

Harlequins in Round 7. 

Bristol Bears have lost their last five Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby matches since beating London Irish 

at Ashton Gate on September 24. The Bears have not 

lost six in succession in the competition since they were 

relegated in season 2016/17. 

Bristol have won only once away from home in 

Premiership Rugby in the last 12 months: 23-8 at Wasps 

on September 17. 

Sale have lost just one of their last five fixtures against 

Bristol in Premiership Rugby: 15-32 at Ashton Gate on 

January 7. 

The Bears’ only previous victory at Salford City Stadium 

in Gallagher Premiership Rugby was by a single point, on 

their first ever visit, on New Year’s Day 2017. 

LEICESTER TIGERS V LONDON IRISH 

Leicester Tigers’ only victory in their last four Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby matches was 27-19 at Harlequins in 

Round 6. 

The Tigers’ defeat to Sale in their most recent home 

game in Premiership Rugby on October 8 ended a 14- 

game winning run in the competition at Mattioli Woods 

Welford Road. 

London Irish have won just once in Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby since the opening weekend: 47-38 at home to 

Bath in Round 4. The Exiles have lost their last six away 

games in the competition since beating Newcastle 42-14 

at Kingston Park on April 22. 

The Tigers have won their last three encounters with 

London Irish in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since their 

9-22 defeat at GTech Community Stadium in November 

2020. 

London Irish have won just once at Welford Road in any 

competition since 2003: 22-19 in Premiership Rugby in 

September 2014. 

61

GLOBAL 

PLAYERS 

LOCAL 

PRESENCE. 

Gallagher is one of the largest insurance 

and risk management companies in 

the world. 

We are committed to our local communities— 

just ask the businesses and organisations 

supported by our Newcastle team. No matter 

your size, sector or game plan, we are on your 

side. Get in touch with us: 

ANDREW MORTON, Sales Director 

E: Andrew_Morton@ajg.com 

T: 07548 093 612 


Find out how our local 

brokers can support your 

business at ajg.com/uk 

Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 

7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. FP1160-2021 Exp 06.09.2022 | ARTUK-4318

Newcastle Falcons Vs Exeter Chiefs Programme

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?