NewcastleFalcons vs Leicester Tigers Programme

NEWCASTLE FALCONS V LEICESTER TIGERS - SAT JAN 7TH, 2023

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FALCONS VS TIGERS LINE-UPS 

TOM PENNY (CAPTAIN) 15 

ADAM RADWAN 14 

MATIAS MORONI 13 

MATIAS ORLANDO 12 

MATEO CARRERAS 11 

BRETT CONNON 10 

SAM STUART 9 

ADAM BROCKLEBANK 1 

JAMIE BLAMIRE 2 

TREVOR DAVISON 3 

GREG PETERSON 4 

SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES 5 

GARY GRAHAM 6 

CALLUM CHICK 7 

CARL FEARNS 8 

REPLACEMENTS 

CHARLIE MADDISON 16 

LOGOVI’I MULIPOLA 17 

RICHARD PALFRAMAN 18 

MATTHEW DALTON 19 

TOM MARSHALL 20 

MICHAEL YOUNG 21 

TIAN SCHOEMAN 22 

ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO 23 

15 FREDDIE STEWARD 

14 HARRY POTTER 

13 MATT SCOTT 

12 DAN KELLY 

11 HARRY SIMMONS 

10 CHARLIE ATKINSON 

9 BEN YOUNGS 

1 JAMES CRONIN 

2 CHARLIE CLARE 

3 DAN COLE 

4 HARRY WELLS 

5 CALUM GREEN 

6 OLLIE CHESSUM 

7 TOMMY REFFELL 

REFEREE: TOM FOLEY. 

ASSISTANT REFEREES: JACK MAKEPEACE, WAYNE FALLA. 

TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL: ANDREW JACKSON. 

CITING OFFICER: BRIAN CAMPSALL. 

8 HANRO LIEBENBERG (CAPTAIN) 

REPLACEMENTS 

16 JOE TAUFETE’E 

17 NEPHI LEATIGAGA 

18 JOE HEYES 

19 CAMERON HENDERSON 

20 EMEKA ILIONE 

21 SEAN JANSEN 

22 JACK VAN POORTVLIET 

23 JIMMY GOPPERTH

Welcome to our first game of 2023 as we look to kick off the new year 

on a positive note. 

We play host to the Gallagher Premiership champions today at a time 

when we know they will be smarting from last weekend’s loss at Sale 

Sharks. 

Leicester Tigers are a class outfit and we cannot afford to take them 

lightly after one bad result against a Sale side who were undoubtedly 

fired up after their defeat here a fortnight ago. 

Leicester are undergoing a period of change following the departures of 

Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield to England, but Richard Wigglesworth 

was already a big part of their coaching set-up and I don’t envisage too 

much changing, in the short term at least. You know they’re going to 

bring a big forward challenge complemented by their kicking game, and 

we have to rise to that as well as imparting our own style onto them. 

I am sure you will have shared my own disappointment at last weekend’s 

loss down at Bath, despite the lads showing outstanding attitude and 

effort in incredibly difficult conditions. 

We enjoyed a lot of dominance during the first half but didn’t manage to 

convert it into points to the same degree as Bath did after half-time, but 

we can definitely build on that performance as we attack the remainder 

of the season. 

We felt aggrieved by certain key decisions during the game, and it was 

one of those occasions where I had to bite my tongue during the postmatch 

interviews. I appreciate the officials have a very difficult job to 

do and we’re always keen to work constructively with the refereeing 

department, but I have to admit at times it’s tough not being able to say 

what you really think. 

We will never use that as an excuse because there are areas of our 

own performance where we can also be better, and after a good week’s 

preparation we are excited by the challenge posed by hosting the 

champions this afternoon. 

Our squad has been boosted this week by the arrival of Pedro Rubiolo 

from Argentina, who will give us some more options in the back row and 

second row. Joining a new club mid-season is difficult for any player, but 

factoring in a new country and a new language makes the challenge 

altogether tougher. 

DAVE WALDER 

“WE ARE EXCITED BY THE 

CHALLENGE OF HOSTING 

THE CHAMPIONS THIS 

AFTERNOON.” 

He has a good support network around him with our other Argentinian 

boys who have fitted in so well and made a big contribution to the club, 

and despite being pretty raw we are looking forward to seeing the longterm 

impact he can make. 

Since my last programme notes we have also had the announcement 

of our two games against Southern Knights in Melrose on Saturday 

February 4, and then back in Newcastle on Saturday February 11. 

It helps fill a gap in our fixture list with three free weekends coming up, 

and it goes without saying it’s for an outstanding cause in Doddie Weir’s 

motor neurone disease foundation. 

I’m sure both games will be well supported, and once again thank you to 

everyone who has come along today to get behind the lads. 

DAVE WALDER 

Head coach 

5

CLUB NEWS 

DODDIE FUNDRAISERS ANNOUNCED 

Newcastle Falcons and Southern Knights will be teaming up to raise 

funds for My name’5 Doddie following the sad news of Doddie Weir 

OBE’s passing last month. 

will be valid for the game. Seasonal hospitality guests will be 

contacted by the club. 

For non-season ticket holders, pricing is as follows: 

NORTH STAND: Adult: £15, U16: £7. 

EAST TERRACE: Adult: £15, U16: £7. 

SOUTH STAND: Adult: £20, U16: £7. 

WEST STAND 

Cat D: Adult: £25, U16: £12. 

Cat C: Adult: £30, U16: £12. 

Cat B: Adult: £35, U16: £20. 

Cat A: Adult: £45, U16: £25. 

Hospitality packages are available from £80 per adult 

and £40 per under-16, including VAT. 

Five Pounds from every ticket or hospitality place will 

also be donated to the foundation, which continues 

to raise funds and awareness around motor neurone 

disease. 

In addition, Newcastle Falcons are producing a bespoke 

T-shirt to mark the occasion, which the team will wear 

during their warm-up at Kingston Park. Those worn by 

the players will then be signed and auctioned off to raise 

additional funds, with all profits going directly to the 

foundation. 

PUMAS FORWARD SIGNS UP 

The Scotland great (pictured) was a fan favourite during his playing 

days with Newcastle Falcons and Melrose, and leaves a huge legacy 

behind him. 

Now, the two teams will come together for two fixtures which will 

continue to raise invaluable funds to help tackle motor neurone 

disease. The first is in Melrose on Saturday February 4 and the 

second at Kingston Park on Saturday February 11. Both games have a 

scheduled kick-off time of 1.30pm. 

Ticketing for the game in Melrose is being arranged by Southern 

Knights. 

For the Kingston Park clash, all season tickets, seasonal 

parking passes and seasonal hospitality places will be valid. 

Season ticket holders do not need to do anything – your card 

Argentina international Pedro 

Rubiolo has bolstered Newcastle 

Falcons’ options by joining on a two-and-a-halfyear 

deal. 

The 6 foot 3 forward is able to play in the back 

row or second row, and made his test debut 

for Argentina against world champions South 

Africa in September of this year. 

Rubiolo, who turned 20 last month, was 

part of the Argentina squad which 

toured Europe in November and 

has played for the Jaguares 

XV in the Súper Liga 

Americana de Rugby, 

as well as Argentina 

Under-20s. 

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9

FEMALE SOCIAL TOUCH 

RUGBY 

HITZ ROUND-UP 

Falcons Community HITZ programme, in partnership with Newcastle 

College and Premiership Rugby, is an education and employability 

course which aims to re-engage young people, using sport as a 

vehicle. 

As we enter 2023, we would love to highlight a few key moments 

from our students’ first term. 

Firstly James, our Level 3 participant, ran his first passing and 

shooting session with his fellow peers. He ran the session with great 

confidence and managed to hold their attention the whole time. After 

the session, James’ debrief went extremely well, with lots of positive 

feedback. 

TYNEMET OPEN TRAINING 

Falcons Community is inviting all Under-16s (Year 11) male rugby 

players to join in an open training event for their Rugby Excellence 

programme with Tynemet on Wednesday, January 11 from 6:30pm 

until 9pm at Kingston Park Stadium. 

the top of the Association of Colleges (AoC) Premiership League. 

The open training event will give all our male under-16s players 

a taste of the programme, with the session consisting of a gym 

session, a rugby session on the main pitch and a programme debrief. 

There is no need to sign up, please just attend on the night, meeting 

at the Tap and Tackle bar (East Stand first floor). 

One of our HITZ participants, Ryan, currently works for Newcastle 

Falcons in the club shop, supporting his family with gas and electric 

bills. 

Recently, Ryan’s boots fell apart, which meant he was unable to play 

sport with his peers, which was a large part of his ability to control 

his mental health. We want to thank Rispin 2 Blues Foundation who 

helped us purchase a new pair of boots, allowing Ryan to continue his 

passion for sport. 

Falcons Community Rugby Excellence Programme with Tynemet 

College is a joint rugby and education partnership, set up to provide 

boys and girls aged 16-18 with the opportunity to pursue rugby 

ambitions alongside their studies. 

Falcons Community are proud to announce they are the largest 

college rugby programme in the North East, and currently sitting at 

For more information about the education side of the programme, 

please email adam.pollock@tynecoast.ac.uk. 

For more information about the rugby side of the programme, please 

email niall.johal@newcastle-falcons.co.uk. 

Newcastle Rugby Foundation are delighted to bring you a brand 

new ‘turn up and play’ social touch rugby sessions at Kingston Park. 

We are calling females aged 14+ to get involved every Wednesday, 

starting on January 11 at 6.30pm at Kingston Park Stadium. 

Another key moment of 2022 was one of our Level 3 students, Josh 

Evans, was awarded runner-up for a National HITZ Award for Young 

Academic Achiever. We are really proud of Josh’s achievement and 

look forward to seeing his future successes as he strives to become 

a firefighter. 

For more information about HITZ, please email david.shotton@ 

newcastle-falcons.co.uk or George.spour@newcastle-falcons. 

co.uk. 

. 

Touch rugby is a fast, exciting and enjoyable game involving no 

contact. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, the 

sessions are designed for skill development and improving fitness 

whilst having fun and sociable evenings. 

For just £20, our touch rugby sessions run for eight weeks and are on 

an individual turn up and play basis. 

To book, please head to www.rugbycamps.co.uk/thunder. For more 

information, please contact 

falconscommunity@newcstle-falcons.co.uk 

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

Instagram: @falcons_community Facebook: Falcons Community Twitter: @FalconsCF LinkedIn: Newcastle Rugby Foundation 

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 

Q1 Which Newcastle Falcons player started in 

last season’s Gallagher Premiership final for 

Leicester Tigers? 

Q2 Which Newcastle Falcons player is 

pictured here? 

Q6 Who was the referee when England won 

the 2003 Rugby World Cup final? 

Q7 Which Newcastle Falcons player’s name is 

an anagram of ‘Camera Roaster’? 

Sell your car to Pulman 

in 3 simple steps. 

Q8 True or false, during his childhood in Australia 

Newcastle Falcons lock Greg Peterson 

was once an extra in ‘Home and Away’? 

Q9 Which former Newcastle Falcons and 

Leicester Tigers player is pictured here? 

Enter Registration 

Find Your Car 

Q3 Which team do Newcastle Falcons play in 

next Sunday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash? 

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Q4 Who kicked the last-minute winning 

conversion when Newcastle Falcons won 

32-31 at Leicester Tigers in October’s 

Premiership Rugby Cup clash? 

Q5 Who was last month named as the new 

head coach of the Welsh national team? 

Q10 Leicester Tigers interim head coach 

Richard Wigglesworth has played Premiership 

rugby for which three clubs? 

Pulman 

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ANSWERS: 1 Matias Moroni, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Cardiff, 4 Louie Johnson, 5 Warren Gatland, 6 Andre Watson, 7 Mateo 

Carreras, 8 False, 9 Tim Stimpson, 10 Sale Sharks, Saracens, Leicester Tigers. 

13

MATIAS MORONI 

“ 

One of my school 

teachers said ‘hey, 

you need to play 

rugby.’ 

A Buenos Aires native who is loving life on Tyneside, Matias 

Moroni is facing familiar opposition as Newcastle Falcons take on 

Leicester Tigers. 

The 31-year-old centre has been capped 69 times by Argentina 

and was a Gallagher Premiership title winner with the East 

Midlands outfit last season, starting in the Twickenham final 

despite already knowing that his sporting future lay elsewhere. 

Fast-forward seven months, and the man known as ‘Tute’ 

[pronounced Too-tay] is fully settled in the North East, with his 

wife and son now here for the ride. 

“The word ‘Tute’ doesn’t really mean anything,” he says, when 

asked about his nickname, which appears in all of his social media 

handles. “When someone is called Matias back home they are also 

known as ‘Matute’, and they chopped off the beginning so I was 

called ‘Tute’. It just stuck.” 

Argentina’s capital city has been the scene of wild celebrations 

over the past few weeks following their football team’s dramatic 

victory in the World Cup final, but it was a much calmer existence 

during Moroni’s childhood where he played a multitude of sports, 

only focusing his attention on rugby well into his teens. 

“I was born in Buenos Aires and went to a school called Los 

Molinos, which gave a lot of importance to a number of different 

sports,” he recalls. 

“I wasn’t from a particularly sporty family, other than the fact we 

loved sport in general. My dad taught me to play tennis and golf as 

well as football and rugby, and I am a big Boca Juniors football fan. 

They’re the most popular club in the country and the only team 

never to be relegated from Argentina’s top division, so I have to 

get that one in there! 

“In the first part of the school year we did rugby, in the second we 

did athletics and in the last part we did football. On the weekends I 

used to play football, but when I was 17 years old one of my school 

teachers said ‘hey, you need to play rugby’. 

“I went to my local club, Club Universitario de Buenos Aires 

(known as CUBA), and that was when I started to play for them. 

On Saturdays I played football and on Sundays I played rugby, 

but when I was 19 my rugby team-mates selected me to be 

the captain. At that point I couldn’t really be asking them for a 

massive effort but be disappearing myself to play football, so that 

was the moment I decided to just concentrate entirely on rugby. 

“I played a couple of seasons for Argentina on the World Rugby 

7s circuit before stopping to concentrate on Super Rugby with 

Jaguares, but when the Olympics came around in 2016 I was asked 

by the coach to come back in.” 

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Regaling magnificent memories from Rio 2016, when Argentina 

reached the rugby sevens quarter-finals, Moroni says: “Along with 

the Rugby World Cups it was the most important sporting event 

I’ve been involved with, and just a totally different experience 

to be living in an athletes’ village with people from all different 

sports. 

“You’d be walking around the complex and see some tennis 

courts, and when you take a closer look you realise it’s Novak 

Djokovic doing some practice. I was in the queue for some food 

in the dining hall and Rafa Nadal was behind me, and it was great 

being in the same Olympic team as Argentinian people like Paula 

Pareto (judo) and Juan Martin del Potro (tennis). I had a photo with 

Manu Ginobili who is a legend of basketball from Argentina, and 

when you’d go to the massive Olympic gym there’d be people of all 

shapes and sizes in there. It was just an amazing life experience 

to see all the different focuses and disciplines.” 

Playing for Argentina Under-20s, the most significant moment 

in his career arrived in 2016 when his homeland was awarded a 

team in Super Rugby, where he became back-line partners with 

his current Falcons team-mate Matias Orlando. 

“I signed my first professional contract with Jaguares, which was 

massive for rugby in Argentina, and it was great playing against 

all the best teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,” 

he says. 

“I played in every single season of Jaguares’ existence, and it was 

incredible. Yes, there was a lot of travel, but we could fit our home 

lives around it, and it just seemed to work. We had a good team 

and got to the Super Rugby final in 2019 against the Crusaders, 

but then when Covid came in it just ceased to exist. We were told 

we were free to find other clubs immediately, and you can imagine 

how much of a shock that was to everyone. 

“It was a tough time because there were 40 players looking all 

around the world to find a club at the same time, and it was a big 

lifestyle change for us all with having to move away from home. 

The uncertainty of it was the main worry, because you’ve also got 

your family to think of.” 

“Being in the 

Olympics was 

an amazing 

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17

“Jaguares disappearing 

was a shock to everyone.” 

s always nice to see them and to speak some Spanish together but 

that friendship will have to be paused until after the game now!” 

Embarking on a Rugby World Cup year in 2023, the year just gone 

saw him starting for Los Pumas in a famous first ever away win 

over New Zealand as well as being in the side which beat England 

at Twickenham. 

where we’re going but at the same time we know there are some 

things we could have done better. Little details make a big difference, 

and we have to continue working together on that.” 

Not that Moroni’s mind is on anything other than today’s assignment 

against Leicester Tigers, the centre admitting: “It’s going to be a 

special game for me. 

Next stop the English Midlands, with the centre saying: “I ended up 

in Leicester, which was my first club outside of Argentina. Luckily 

I was 28 when I moved there, and I’m glad I was able to do it as an 

older player. The guys now are having to move away at 19 or 20 

like Pedro Rubiolo and Mateo Carreras, but I’d had the chance to 

grow as a player and a person before undergoing that massive life 

change of moving to a new country. 

“The environment at Leicester was really good, and I was lucky to 

have four Argies there. That makes things a lot easier, and I had 

a good time. 

“When I arrived at Leicester they’d been near the bottom of the 

league the previous season, but in my first year we got to the 

final of the Challenge Cup. We finished sixth in the league but we 

started feeling we were doing things the right way, and then the 

next year we made the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup as 

well as winning the Premiership final.” 

far away from things. The way the players here have received me 

is very similar to Leicester, and I like the fact we train on the same 

pitch we play on.” 

Starting in the Falcons’ last home game – a 20-14 triumph over a 

Sale side who then thumped Leicester 40-5 a week later – Moroni 

went on to spend Christmas with some of today’s opponents as 

Argentina’s burgeoning ex-pat rugby community merged together 

for the holiday celebrations. 

“Because we played on December 23 and Leicester played 

Gloucester on Christmas Eve, the Argie boys all went to Leicester 

for Christmas to spend time together,” he reveals. 

“Some other guys went up to Glasgow because we have a few 

boys up in Scotland as well, and it’s good to have that network of 

people within a few hours’ drive. We had a good time with those 

boys, it’ 

“I feel like we are not in a bad position as a national team,” says 

Moroni, with the Pumas ranked eighth in the world. 

“We had some great wins last season, we have a new coach in 

Michael Cheika and some new players coming through, and we’re 

starting to build something new. I don’t want to say too much about 

the future, especially when we’re not together again until July for the 

Rugby Championship, so the most important thing is everyone just 

focusing on their clubs and making sure they’re playing well enough 

to get selected. 

“I believe we’re building things in the correct way, we’re happy with 

“Leicester was my first experience of playing club rugby outside of 

Argentina, and I really enjoyed that time. It felt like my home, but now 

I also feel like Newcastle is home, and I love being with the Falcons. 

“I have really good friends at Leicester after living there and winning 

the title with them, but I’ll try not to think about those things on the 

day if I’m involved. Once the game starts I have no more friends, and 

when it finishes I hope I have the same friends I had before! 

“On the pitch I don’t want to do anything which breaks those 

friendships, but we’re all competitive people and we’ll be trying our 

hardest for our team to win the game.” 

Moroni started at centre in the dramatic victory over Saracens 

despite knowing it would be his last game for the club – a memory 

he holds dear. 

“I will never forget the Premiership final because it was an 

incredible experience, even though I knew I was leaving,” he says. 

“Leicester had told me they weren’t going to keep me, and I had 

then gone out and signed my contract with Newcastle even 

though it hadn’t been announced. Leicester knew about it and 

we had a very honest conversation, during which I said I was fully 

committed to playing in the remaining games even though we 

both knew I was leaving. It was very sincere from both sides, and 

I just basically said I’m thinking of the present, not the future, in 

that I want to help Leicester win the Premiership title. 

“Mentally I was pretty calm because I knew the Newcastle move 

was all finalised, and I knew it was a good place with people I know 

and respect. I like the objectives of Newcastle and the way we go 

about things, and although we haven’t achieved them yet I can 

see the hard work which is pointing us in the right direction. 

“I love living in Newcastle, and my family is here now as well. 

Everything is close together, which is great, whereas when I was 

at Leicester we were living in Market Harborough, which was quite 

“I will never 

forget the 

Premiership 

final.” 

18 19

PLAYER STATS 

Name 

Falcons 

career 

apps 

Falcons 

career 

points 

Falcons 

career 

tries 

Season 

2022-23 

apps 

Season 

2022-23 

points 

Season 

2022-23 

tries 

Name 

Falcons 

career 

apps 

Falcons 

career 

points 

Falcons 

career 

tries 

Season 

2022-23 

apps 

Season 

2022-23 

points 

Season 

2022-23 

tries 

Josh Barton 7 5 1 7 5 1 Tom Marshall 16 5 1 9 0 0 

George Bennett-Teare 3 0 0 2 0 0 Oliver Melville 1 0 0 1 0 0 

Jamie Berrisford 1 0 0 1 0 0 Matias Moroni 7 0 0 7 0 0 

James Blackett 5 3 0 3 3 0 Logovi'i Mulipola 69 20 4 8 5 1 

Jamie Blamire 77 80 16 14 20 4 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti 32 15 3 4 0 0 

Phil Brantingham 7 0 0 5 0 0 Elliott Obatoyinbo 10 10 2 10 10 2 

Adam Brocklebank 88 0 0 12 0 0 Chidera Obonna 5 5 1 0 0 0 

Conrad Cade 12 0 0 8 0 0 Matias Orlando 25 10 2 4 0 0 

Mateo Carreras 27 50 10 10 40 8 Richard Palframan 20 0 0 12 0 0 

Callum Chick 116 90 18 10 5 1 Tom Penny 84 50 10 11 10 2 

Jeremy Civil 2 0 0 2 0 0 Guy Pepper 7 15 3 7 10 3 

Sam Clark 0 0 0 0 0 0 Josh Peters 5 5 1 5 5 1 

Connor Collett 25 10 2 6 5 1 Greg Peterson 66 15 3 10 0 0 

Brett Connon 79 356 2 11 72 0 Vereimi Qorowale 2 5 1 2 5 1 

Luke Coulston 1 0 0 1 0 0 Adam Radwan 83 230 46 13 15 3 

Matthew Dalton 9 0 0 7 0 0 Mike Rewcastle 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Trevor Davison 100 20 4 7 0 0 Sean Robinson 135 65 13 9 0 0 

Sebastien de Chaves 29 0 0 14 0 0 Pedro Rubiolo 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Matt Deehan 3 0 0 2 0 0 Tian Schoeman 10 33 0 10 33 0 

Mark Dormer 3 0 0 3 0 0 Charlie Smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Ben Douglas 3 0 0 2 0 0 Oliver Spencer 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Carl Fearns 23 5 1 4 0 0 Iwan Stephens 11 20 4 5 5 1 

Ollie Fletcher 5 5 1 4 5 1 Ben Stevenson 59 80 18 10 0 0 

Gary Graham 90 80 16 2 0 0 Sam Stuart 73 40 8 11 10 2 

Ewan Greenlaw 5 0 0 5 0 0 Alex Tait 266 200 40 6 10 2 

Nathan Greenwood 1 5 1 1 5 1 Mark Tampin 66 0 0 13 0 0 

Will Hopes 2 0 0 2 0 0 Josh Thomas 5 15 0 5 15 0 

Louie Johnson 4 8 0 3 8 0 Marcus Tiffen 7 10 2 6 5 1 

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

Zach Kerr 11 10 2 5 5 1 George Wacokecoke 63 80 16 6 5 1 

Freddie Lockwood 16 0 0 6 0 0 Alun Walker 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Pete Lucock 32 5 1 6 0 0 Rory Ward 3 0 0 3 0 0 

Charlie Maddison 24 5 1 7 0 0 Will Welch 275 90 18 4 0 0 

Charlie Maddison 24 5 1 7 0 0 Michael Young 191 100 20 8 0 0

SEASONAL HOSPITALITY GUESTS 

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Countryside Civils 

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FIFTEEN AT THE FALCONS 

Northumbria University - Jennie Barton 

Alan Taylor 

Gosforth Estates - Sheila Barnes 

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22 

FIND OUT MORE: 

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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 




CHARLIE MADDISON 

Hooker 

24/06/1991 



TOM MARSHALL 

Back row 

20/10/1999 



Honours: Scotland U20 

MATIAS MORONI 

Centre 

10/07/1991 



Honours: Argentina 

LOGOVI’I MULIPOLA 

Prop 

11/03/1987 



Honours: Samoa 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

MATEO CARRERAS 

Wing 

17/12/1999 




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 

CAMERON NORDLI-KELEMETI 

Scrum-half 

20/09/1999 



Honours: England U18 

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. 

MATTHEW DALTON 

Lock 

16/11/1998 




TREVOR DAVISON 

Prop 

20/08/1992 




SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES 

Lock 

30/10/1990 



Honours: South Africa U20 

CARL FEARNS 

Back row 

28/05/1989 



Honours: England A 

TOM PENNY 

Full-back 

13/10/1994 



JOSH PETERS 

Lock 

10/12/1995 



Honours: Spain 

GREG PETERSON 

Lock 

26/03/1991 



Honours: USA 

VEREIMI QOROWALE 

Wing/centre 

27/01/1995 



1. 

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

GARY GRAHAM 

Back row 

29/08/1992 



Honours: Scotland 

CONOR KENNY 

Prop 

25/07/1996 




FREDDIE LOCKWOOD 

Back row 

31/12/2000 




PETE LUCOCK 

Centre 

27/11/1992 



ADAM RADWAN 

Wing 

30/12/1997 




PEDRO RUBIOLO 

Back-five forward 

21/12/2002 

Height: 191cm (6 foot 3) 

TIAN SCHOEMAN 

Fly-half 

23/09/1991 

Height: 1.82m (5ft 10) 

The 


Weight: 114kg (18 stone) 


24 Blackbirds Honours: England Students 


25 

SEAN ROBINSON 

Lock 

08/02/1991 

Height: 1.93m (6ft 3)

MOTOR GROUP 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

IWAN STEPHENS 

Wing 

24/03/2002 




BEN STEVENSON 

Wing/centre 

19/07/1998 




SAM STUART 

Scrum-half 

27/09/1991 




ALEX TAIT 

Full-back 

18/03/1988 




Jack & Jonquil 

Stewart 

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. 

MARK TAMPIN 

Prop 

20/01/1992 



JOSH THOMAS 

Fly-half 

30/06/2000 



Honours: Wales U20 

PHILIP VAN DER WALT 

Back-row 

14/07/1989 



GEORGE WACOKECOKE 

Centre 

23/10/1995 




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. 

ALUN WALKER 

28/09/1990 

Hooker 

Height: 180cm (5ft 11) 


Honours: Scotland A 

WILL WELCH 

Back row 

03/04/1990 




MICHAEL YOUNG 

Scrum-half 

31/12/1988 



Honours: England A 

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 

There was much whooping and hollering with delight among the selfproclaimed 

sports marketing experts on twitter following the announcement 

that rugby is taking measures to speed up the game. 

It’s a great headline, I’ll give them that, but once you get into the actual meat 

of the changes following World Rugby’s ‘shape of the game’ conference, 

there’s not much to chew on. 

The biggest noise was reserved for the introduction of a shot clock, 

ensuring conversions are taken within 90 seconds of a try being scored and 

that penalties are kicked within a minute of the tee coming onto the field. 

They’ve been doing it in France for years, and it’s a valid point of reference 

for viewers inside the stadium or watching on TV. I’m actually in favour, for 

what it’s worth, but don’t be under the impression it will speed up the game. 

If anything, it will slow it down. 

Imagine the scene. You’re winning a game, your team scores a try – you can 

bet your bottom dollar you’re using every one of those 90 seconds because 

it allows the opposition less time to score in reply. George Ford famously did 

it here four years ago, there’s a great online clip of Ruan Pienaar doing it for 

Montpellier and it’s something we’re going to have to get used to once shot 

clocks start appearing inside stadia. 

It’s not even a new law. Conversions and penalties are already capped at 90 

and 60 seconds respectively, and the tinkering with water breaks is simply 

because they’ve released their last attempt at meddling added time to the 

game rather than saving it. 

The 30-second limit to set a scrum could in theory save a little faffing 

around, but the true test will come when the clock ticks past 30 and 

both front rows still aren’t stable. No referee is going to force an unsafe 

engagement, and who do you penalise when both sides are guilty? 

No huddles before line-outs? Fine, but teams will just walk more slowly and 

talk on the move. 

Television match official only coming in for ‘clear and obvious’ decisions? 

Again, fine, but who defines what is clear and obvious? It’s another grey 

area. 

I don’t always agree with him, but the Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter 

had a point recently when he questioned rugby’s obsession for tinkering 

with the laws. 

If we want to engage a new audience, is making the game even more 

complicated the way to do it? 

And what about the existing audience? 

George Ford running down the clock at Kingston 

Park in 2019 

In the apparent quest to appeal to the casual punter, we can’t forget those 

who already devote their time and their money into supporting the sport. 

31

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ALL OUR YESTERDAYS 

Kingsley Hyland’s regular series of articles 

continues to track key moments in the club’s 

history. 

30 YEARS AGO – JANUARY 9, 1993 

NEWCASTLE GOSFORTH 17-20 WAKEFIELD 

The 1992-3 season, 16 years after the club first reached the pinnacle of the English 

club game and still three years away from the Sir John Hall led takeover, saw the last 

success as an amateur club. 

The club had moved to Kingston Park with a mission to secure first division status 

within three years, a target that would eventually be achieved in April despite this 

surprise setback against mid-table Wakefield as league rugby returned after a tenweek 

break. 

With 13 teams in the second division playing each other just once, there was little 

margin for error. 

The team had completed the first half of the league season with a perfect record of 

six wins from six, having seen off those clubs which were expected to provide their 

biggest challenges. Despite this they only held a two-point lead over their nearest rivals. 

Wakefield were not to be taken lightly, as they had won on their three previous visits 

to Kingston Park. 

For 65 minutes Newcastle were totally dominant despite butchering a number of 

try-scoring opportunities. Having survived early pressure they took a firm grip on the 

game, and took the lead after 18 minutes when they ran a penalty move involving Terry 

Roberts and Richard Arnold to work full-back Ian Chandler into a scoring position, which 

he took with the assistance of a half dummy and side step. 

David Johnson, contending with a strong cross field wind, missed the conversion, but 

Newcastle led 5-0. They doubled this by half-time when scrum half Steve Douglas went 

over, having been denied minutes earlier. 

The second half began with the home side exerting enormous 

forward pressure on the Wakefield line, but they failed to 

score from a series of pushover attempts. When the ball 

was eventually released to the backs, centre Ross Wilkinson 

appeared to have scored, but Scottish international referee 

David Leslie was not satisfied that he had grounded the ball. 

This proved to be only a brief reprieve for the visitors as 

No.8 Alastair Meadows went over from the resultant scrum. 

Johnson’s conversion took the score to 17-0 with 55 minutes 

played. 

Two further gilt-edged scoring opportunities were blown 

before Rob Liley’s penalty with just 15 minutes remaining put 

Wakefield on the board for the first time. Five minutes later 

wing Jon Sleightholme broke through two attempted tackles 

to score in the corner, and Liley’s magnificent touchline 

conversion made it 17-10 with ten minutes remaining. 

Despite their almost total dominance of the set-piece and 

breakdown Newcastle were not awarded a single penalty 

or free kick in the second half, but referee Leslie’s most 

controversial call came three minutes after Sleightholme’s 

try when the winger made another break and headed in the 

direction of the same corner. 

Wilkinson made a magnificent try-saving tackle to bundle 

Sleightholme into touch in-goal. To the disbelief of almost 

everyone, including the touch judge who had signalled that 

the player had gone into touch, Leslie awarded a penalty try 

for a high tackle. The resultant conversion from in front of the 

posts brought the sides level with seven minutes remaining. 

Questioned about the try after the match, Wakefield coach 

Mitch Dearman eschewed the Arsene Wenger ‘I haven’t seen 

it yet’ approach by responding “I thought hello, it’s Christmas 

again.” 

The Newcastle Gosforth team that day was as follows: 

I.Chandler; T.Penn: R.Wilkinson; N.Robinson; M.White; D.Johnson; 

S.Douglas; R.Fuller; N.Frankland (capt); P.Thompson; S.Gibbs; 

T.Roberts; G.Clark; R.Arnold; A.Meadows. 

Given the way that the second half had gone it came as no 

real surprise when, with minutes remaining, Newcastle’s 

dominant scrum was penalised for collapsing. Forty metres 

out but in front of the posts, Liley made no mistake to seal a 

victory that threw the promotion race wide open. 

Fly-half David ‘Banty’ Johnson 

38 39


NEWCASTLE FALCONS 15-12 WORCESTER 

WARRIORS 

Worcester Warriors have made 14 Premiership 

visits to Kingston Park, but very few of them will 

have lived long in the memory. 

This match 15 years ago was another dour affair in 

front of a crowd of 7,219. 

The Falcons were enjoying a half-decent season 

under John Fletcher’s stewardship, whilst win-less 

Worcester’s impressive tally of bonus points had 

kept them one place off the bottom of the table. 

On this occasion they outscored the Falcons two 

tries to nil but still returned home with just a 

bonus point to show for their efforts. 

After former Falcon Loki Crichton had missed 

with an early penalty attempt, Jonny Wilkinson 

opened the scoring with a 10th minute penalty. 

The visitors responded positively with Crichton 

making good use of kicks to the corner, but both 

Thinus Delport and Aleki Lutui were denied as they 

were held up over the line. 

They eventually got their reward after half an 

hour’s play when Miles Benjamin went over in the 

corner following a set move off a scrum. Crichton’s 

conversion fell just short, and with two minutes to 

go to the break Wilkinson put the Falcons back in 

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41

in front with his second penalty. His third early in 

the second half extended the lead to four points. 

Just before the hour mark the Warriors regained 

the lead when All Black Rico Gear ran a great line 

off Tuitupou’s dummy run to score to the left of 

the posts. Crichton converted, and at 12-9 the 

visitors were eyeing a first victory of the season. 

The Falcons once again turned to Wilkinson to get 

them out of jail. His fourth penalty levelled the 

scores before Worcester once again laid siege to 

the Newcastle line. 

They were denied two tries firstly when Lutui was 

adjudged to have been held up, and again when a 

scoring pass to Delport was deemed to have been 

forward. 

Wilkinson duly made them pay when, with eight 

minutes remaining, the Falcons eventually broke 

clear and worked him into position for a drop goal 

40 metres out. Wilkinson duly obliged for what 

proved to be the winning score. 

The Falcons team that day was: 

M.Tait: T.May; T.Visser (rep.O.Phillipps, 67); 

T.Flood; J.Rudd; J.Wilkinson; J.Grindal (rep. 

Lee Dickson, 57); J.Golding (rep.M.Ward, 52); 

A.Long (rep.M.Thompson, 57); C.Hayman; A.Perry; 

M.Sorenson; G.Parling (capt) (rep.R.Winter, 57); 

B.Woods; B.Wilson. 


NEWCASTLE FALCONS 28-20 EXETER 

CHIEFS 

League champions Exeter travelled north for the opening 

fixture of the year on the back of seven straight Premiership 

wins. 

The Falcons had won their last three league matches, and a 

strong end to the season would see them reach their highest 

placing since 1998. 

“Newcastle stun champions Exeter with first-half blitz” 

screamed the headline in the Times in its report on a game 

watched by 7,174 spectators. 

The Falcons took a third-minute lead through a 

Toby Flood penalty, but Gareth Steenson responded 

in kind after 10 minutes to draw the Chiefs level 

for what was to prove the last time. 

With 23 minutes played Sinoti Sinoti scored what 

was later voted the Premiership try of the season. 

Sean Robinson stripped Chiefs scrum-half Nic 

White to put Sinoti away, and his outrageous side 

step left James Short on his backside. 

The Falcons suffered a major setback shortly 

after when Flood was forced to leave the field to 

be replaced by Joel Hodgson. Their immediate 

Vereniki Goneva 

response was a second try, this time from Niki 

Goneva. Hodgson’s first act was to kick the 

conversion, and the home team led 15-3 with 26 

minutes played. 

They suffered further disruption on the half-hour 

mark when flanker Gary Graham was forced off, 

to be replaced by Nili Latu. A Hodgson penalty 

extended the lead to 18-3, and as half-time 

approached he converted Kyle Cooper’s try to give 

the Falcons a healthy 25-3 lead at the break. 

Newcastle’s first-half dominance was based on 

their superiority at the breakdown, and by the end 

of the game they had secured 16 turnovers. 

It was inevitable that Exeter would come back 

strongly in the second half, and with just three 

minutes played Sam Simmonds scored their first 

try. 

The Falcons did not concede again until the 67th 

minute when Woodburn atoned for his first half 

embarrassment with a try. Steenson’s conversion 

brought the Chiefs to within ten points at 25-15, 

and it was game on. 

The home side suffered further injury disruption 

when skipper Will Welch was forced off to be 

replaced by a hooker, Scott Lawson, who was 

accommodated in the front row by moving Cooper 

to the back row. 

Heroic defence kept the visitors out until the 78th 

minute when second row Toby Salmon touched 

down to bring the visitors to within one score. 

Crucially, Steenson missed the conversion attempt 

and the Falcons were able to secure the ball from 

the restart. 

Perhaps the biggest cheer of the afternoon came 

when referee Andrew Jackson awarded the Falcons 

a penalty, which Hodgson converted to deny the 

Chiefs a losing bonus point. 

The Falcons team was as follows: 

S.Hammersley; N.Goneva; C.Harris; J.Matavesi 

(re.JP Socino, 62); S.Sinoti; T.Flood 

(rep.J.Hodgson); M.Young (rep.T.Takulua, 68); 

R.Vickers (rep.S.Lockwood, 68); K.Cooper; 

J.Welsh (rep.S.Wilson, 72); C.Green; S.Robinson 

(rep.E.Olmstead, 42); W.Welch (capt) 

(rep.S.Lawson, 67); G.Graham (rep.N.Latu, 30); 

M.Wilson. 

42 43 

Sinoti Sinoti

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 (W 24-21) 

DECEMBER 

GP: Sat Dec 3 v London Irish (L 39-17) 

ECC: Sat Dec 10 v Connacht (L 22-8) 

ECC: SAT DEC 17 v CARDIFF (L 10-47) 

GP: FRI DEC 23 V SALE SHARKS (W 20-14) 

GP: Sat Dec 31 v Bath Rugby (L 24-16) 

NEXT TIME AT KP 

V CONNACHT 

SAT Jan 21st 

ECC 

Kick-off: 17:30 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 

F: Sat Feb 4 v Southern Knights (1.30pm) 

F: SAT FEB 11 V SOUTHERN KNIGHTS (1.30PM) 

GP: Fri Feb 17 v Bristol Bears (7.45pm) 

GP: Sat Feb 25 v Saracens (2.30pm) 

MARCH 

GP: SUN MAR 5 V LONDON IRISH (3pm) 

GP: Sat Mar 11 v Exeter Chiefs (2.30 pm) 

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 

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IN OPPOSITION - LEICESTER TIGERS 

Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester Tigers come into this 

afternoon’s clash sitting in sixth place, seven points above Newcastle 

Falcons. 

Richard Wigglesworth remains in interim charge following the departures 

of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield to England, with Leicester facing 

Newcastle today for the fourth time this season, having previously met 

in pre-season friendly, Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup action. 

In what some would argue has been a disappointing defence of their 

league title so far, the East Midlands outfit have recorded the same 

number of victories as defeats (five) as well as an empathic 26-all draw, 

which came against Bristol Bears in Round 12. 

Road, Tigers also saw several key personnel depart for ventures new. 

Former Tigers captain and England international Ellis Genge signed for his 

hometown club Bristol Bears, with powerhouse winger Nemani Nadolo 

also leaving mid-season to join New South Wales Watatahs in Australia. 

Centre Matias Moroni, who started in the 2021-22 final, made the trip 

north to join the ranks at Newcastle Falcons, quickly establishing himself 

as a fan favourite as part of the Argentine contingent at Kingston Park. 

Centre Juan Pablo Socino, winger Jordan Olowofela, full-back Jaco 

Taute, utility back Bryce Hegarty and flanker Marco van Staden all also 

departed the club. 

Leicester and Gloucester 

players after their recent 

Ed Slater Cup clash 

Despite some rollercoaster results in the 

Premiership Tigers have enjoyed success in 

Europe, with two wins from two games in 

the Champions Cup against some strong 

opposition in Top 14 side Clermont 

Auvergne and URC outfit, Ospreys. 

The reigning Premiership 

champions made several 

key signings over the 

summer, with some 

notable names joining 

the ranks. World-cupwinning 

fly-half Handre Pollard was the stand-out, signing 

from Montpellier to fill the slot left by George Ford’s departure 

to Sale Sharks. 

England international Anthony Watson also made the move north, 

joining from Bath Rugby, and has enjoyed a strong start to his 

career as a Tiger. 

Experienced Irish prop James Cronin signed from Top 14 side Biarritz, 

with veteran back and former Falcon Jimmy Gopperth also joining the 

ranks from Wasps 

In addition Tigers opted for some promising and youthful additions to the 

senior squad, signing London Irish duo Phil Cokanasiga and Olly Cracknell. 

Leicester’s league campaign got of to a difficult start, falling to a 24- 

20 away defeat in the opening round to Exeter Chiefs before making 

amends in round 2, recording a 36-21 victory at Mattioli Woods Welford 

Road against the Falcons. 

The Tigers began their Premiership Rugby Cup with a 25-19 defeat to Sale 

Sharks before returning to winning ways in the league with a dominant 

21-41 victory away to Northampton Saints. 

Saracens then handed Tigers a dominant 51-18 defeat at the StoneX, 

with a second defeat in a row soon following as Leicester lost out 16-26 

at the hands of Sale Sharks. 

Bouncing back, Tigers claimed victory at the Stoop the following week, 

beating Harlequins 19-27, before a return to Premiership Rugby Cup 

action saw Leicester lose out to Newcastle Falcons in the final moments 

- a 31-32 score-line falling in favour of the North East outfit. 

Losing 19-18 away to Bath, Leicester kick-started their November as a 

strong turn-around saw two wins on the bounce. The first was in the 

Premiership Rugby Cup, an 8-45 victory away at Saracens, before a 

return to league action with a 33-31 victory against London Irish. 

An emphatic 26-all draw against Bristol Bears opened the festive 

period for the Tigers before claiming two strong wins in the European 

Champions Cup against Ospreys and ASM Clermont Auvergne, 17-23 and 

23-16 respectively. 

50 

South Africa flyhalf 

Handre Pollard 

England scrumhalf 

Jack van 

Poortvliet 

Hooker Joe Taufete’e joined from LA Giltinis, with fly-half Charlie Atkinson 

also signing following Wasps’ fall into administration. 

Despite a busy summer of players heading to Mattioli Woods Welford 

Winning 28-13 at home to Gloucester continued the momentum before 

Sale Sharks handed the Tigers a humbling defeat last time out, securing 

a 40-5 win at AJ Bell Stadium. 

51

IN OPPOSITION - THREE TO WATCH 

ANTHONY WATSON 

The outside-back joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2022-23 season 

from fellow Gallagher Premiership side Bath Rugby. 

Capable of playing at full back or on the wings, Watson has made 10 

appearances so far for the Premiership champions, scoring four tries 

in the process. 

Watson also holds a number of international honours. The 28-yearold 

is capped 51 times for England and has feature five times for the 

British & Irish Lions across both the 2017 tour to New Zealand and the 

most recent tour in 2021 to South Africa. 

DAN COLE 

An academy graduate at Leicester Tigers, Dan Cole has made over 300 

club appearances for the East Midlands outfit. 

Making his debut in 2007, the 35-year-old has been a stalwart for his 

hometown club and the current Gallagher Premiership champions. 

The veteran tight-head prop has also played 95 times internationally for 

England since his test debut in 2010, and has been capped three times for 

the British & Irish lions across the 2013 tour to Australia and the 2017 tour 

of New Zealand. 

RICHARD 

WIGGLESWORTH 

INTERIM HEAD COACH 

JULIAN MONTOYA 

The Argentina hooker joined the reigning Gallagher Premiership 

champions in 2021 from then Super Rugby side, Jaguares. Since, 

Montoya has gone on to make 32 appearances for the Tigers, returning 

an impressive 17 tries. 

Montoya is also capped internationally for Argentina and has made 

75 appearances for Los Pumas since his debut against Uruguay as a 

19-year-old in 2014. 

The 29-year-old recently captained his national side in their historic 

victory against England in the recent Autumn Nations Series. It was 

Argentina’s first win at Twickenham since 2006. 

Stepping in as interim head coach after the recent 

appointment of Steve Borthwick as England head coach, 

Richard Wigglesworth is currently at the helm of the 

reigning Gallagher Premiership champions. 

A serial winner as a player representing Sale Sharks and 

Saracens as well as his spell in the senior squad at the 

Tigers, Wigglesworth accumulated seven league titles 

alongside three European Champions Cup trophies. 

53

The home of 

domestic rugby 

We are 

Alzheimer’s 

Society. 

We’re a vital source of 

support and a powerful 

force for change for everyone 

living with dementia. 

We are here collecting today at 

Kingston Park Stadium. Please come 

say hello, tell us your stories and 

please support our cause. 

Scan the 

QR code 

to donate 

today. 

Alzheimer’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales (296645); 

the Isle of Man (1128) and operates in Northern Ireland.

NORTHUMBERLAND RUGBY UNION 

Percy Park hosted Border Park on Boxing Day 

Boxing Day has always been a traditional day of getting rid 

of the Christmas excesses by meeting up with old friends to 

chase a rugby ball round a pitch before retiring to the bar and 

reminisce on matches of yesteryear. 

And, although some fixtures aren’t honoured any more, many 

traditional festive games still took place. 

North Northumberland was the venue for the traditional 

Alnwick v Berwick get-together with two matches at senior 

level, while Morpeth hosted the annual Snitter v Sheepwash 

event (roughly town vs country, but the distinction seems to 

be a vague one). 

At the coast Percy Park hosted Whitley Bay Rockliff with two 

senior games including one against a Border Park invitational 

side with no fewer than nine clubs represented, and an 

under-17s match, and at Sutherland Park (albeit on the 27th) 

Novocastrians proudly hosted the John Elders memorial 

game. 

Well done to all the players who ensured that a festive 

tradition was maintained – and a big thank you to the happy 

whistlers from the Referees’ Society who gave up their bank 

holiday to get involved. 

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025 IMPACT PROGRAMME 

Between 2023 and 2027 the RFU will deliver a transformational 

Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2025 Impact programme in 

partnership with the government and Sport England. The 

programme includes a multi-million pound facility investment 

fund. 

The objective of this fund is to; ‘Enhance the rugby club 

experience for females’ as set out in the RFU’s ‘Every Rose’ 

action plan. 

Funding is available for the provision of basic sanitary 

requirements, improvements to rugby club female toilets, 

impact refurbishments to create female friendly club social 

spaces and enhancements to existing and construction of 

new female changing rooms. 

The RWC 2025 Impact Programme Facility Fund is now 

open, and all Rugby clubs can apply online through a simple 

application form. Please visit the Community Rugby Help 

Portal if you have any questions. Applications close on 

January 31, 2023. 

The programme also includes grant funding to support clubs to 

improve and refurbish their social space and changing rooms. 

Access to these funds is managed through the constituent 

body facility planning process. Please in the initial instance 

contact the county office for more information. 

TEAM OF THE MONTH AWARD 

Entries are now open for December. 

If your club or team, whether male or female, youth or senior, 

has a success story on or off the field, for a chance to win 20 

tickets to a Falcons match of choice please send your entry 

with photos to DeanGray@northumberlandrfu.co.uk . 

Northumberland RFU would like to wish all rugby fans a happy 

new year. Please continue to support both your local rugby 

club and the county in 2023. 

56

PREMIERSHIP PREVIEWS 

LAST NIGHT 

GLOUCESTER V SARACENS 

TODAY 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS V LEICESTER TIGERS 

Newcastle Falcons have won three of their last five Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby matches, but both defeats have been in the space of the last three 

rounds. 

Leicester Tigers’ six-game unbeaten run in all tournaments ended with their 

5-40 reversal at Sale on Friday. The Tigers have not won away from home 

in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since beating Harlequins at the Twickenham 

Stoop in mid-October. 

Excluding Newcastle’s declared win on Boxing Day 2020, the Falcons have 

not beaten the Tigers in Premiership Rugby since a 25-23 win at Mattioli 

Woods Welford Road in April 2018. Leicester’s most recent defeat at 

Kingston Park in Premiership Rugby was in February 2016. 

Newcastle Falcons scrum-half Josh Barton 

. 

EXETER CHIEFS V NORTHAMPTON 

SAINTS 

Exeter Chiefs’ five-game winning run in all competitions 

ended with their 3-35 defeat at Saracens on New 

Year’s Eve. The Chiefs’ solitary defeat at Sandy Park in 

any tournament since March was 20-22 to Saracens in 

Round 7 of Premiership Rugby. 

Northampton Saints’ last seven matches in Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home 

side on the day. The Saints have won just once on the 

road in Premiership Rugby since April: 40-36 at Wasps 

on October 9. The last six encounters between the two 

clubs have been evenly split with three wins each, whilst 

the Saints have won on their last two visits to Sandy 

Park. 

TOMORROW 

HARLEQUINS V SALE SHARKS 

Harlequins have slipped to back-to-back 

defeats in Gallagher Premiership Rugby, at 

home to Bristol and away at Northampton, 

and have not lost three in succession in the 

tournament since February. Quins have not 

lost consecutive Premiership Rugby fixtures 

at the Twickenham Stoop since November 

2021. 

Sale Sharks’ only loss in their last four Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby matches was 14-20 at Newcastle on 

December 23. The Sharks have not been victorious away 

from home in any competition since beating Leicester 

Tigers 26-16 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on October 

8. 

LONDON IRISH V BRISTOL BEARS 

London Irish wing Ollie Hassell-Collins 

London Irish have won just twice in Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby since early October but have at least picked 

up losing bonus points in their last five defeats. The 

Exiles’ only reversal at Gtech Community Stadium in 

Premiership Rugby since April was by a solitary point to 

Gloucester in Round 7. 

Bristol Bears have won their last three first team 

matches, beating Perpignan and Zebre in the European 

Challenge Cup and Harlequins in Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby. The Bears have not won successive away games 

in Premiership Rugby since May 2021. 

58 

Sale Sharks wing Tom O’Flaherty 

59

CLUB NEWS 

LULU BLUNDELL 

2003 - 2023 

An inspirational presence who showed courage right until the end, 

Newcastle Falcons are saddened to share the news that Lulu Blundell 

has lost her battle with cancer. 

Lulu was a popular member of staff, working in the club shop and 

ticket office. 

Following her diagnosis of terminal cancer last year, Lulu helped raise 

funds and awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity was 

with her every step of the way, and players and supporters alike will 

have the chance to pay their respects to Lulu during the moment’s 

applause prior to today’s kick-off. 

Rugby was always a big part of Lulu’s life, playing for Sheffield RUFC 

and Wakefield Trinity prior to her diagnosis. 

Newcastle Falcons retail manager Alison Carthy said: “Lulu made a 

lasting impression, radiating fun and mischief, and I have never met 

anyone with her mind-set regardless of age. 

transforming your day. She showed us that regardless of the challenge, 

rising to it with dignity and determination was the only option. 

“It is no coincidence that she was a rugby player, representing both 

Wakefield Trinity and Sheffield Swans, and one of her saddest moments 

was knowing she would no longer be able to play. 

“She was made honorary vice president of Sheffield Rugby Union 

Football Club, and it was almost inevitable then that once at university 

she would secure a part-time position in sales and ticketing with 

Newcastle Falcons. 

“She loved her job, and the generosity and support from the club has 

been wonderful. I know she massively appreciated the promotion of 

her fund-raising for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity very close to 

our hearts, and the love shown to her.” 

To donate, go to justgiving.com and search for ‘In Memory of Lulu’. 

“To say she was inspirational sounds like a platitude, but it’s not. She 

was warm and caring, and always wanted to help and be doing something. 

Even during her treatment she would think of others before 

herself, and she leaves us far richer in spirit than before we met.” 

Lulu’s mother, Carolyn Blundell, paid tribute to her daughter, saying: 

“Whilst our hearts are so very heavy at this time, Stephen and I will 

treasure every minute of the 19 years Lulu spent with us. 

“She taught us all so very much about how to make the most of every 

moment and how important a smile, a kiss, and a hug could be in 

61

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NewcastleFalcons vs Leicester Tigers Programme

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