Newcastle Falcons vs Saracens Programme

NEWCASTLE 

FALCONS VS 

SARACENS 

SUN 12.11.23 

KO 15:00

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KE E P I NG 

HOME 

YOU W A R M 

STARTING XV 1 

15 ELLIOT DALY 2345678 

14 SEAN MAITLAND 

13 ALEX LOZOWSKI 

12 NICK TOMPKINS 

11 ALEX LEWINGTON 

10 ALEX GOODE (C) 

9 IVAN VAN ZYL 

STARTING XV 

1 

15 ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO 2345678 

14 ADAM RADWAN 

13 MATIAS ORLANDO 

12 RORY JENNINGS 

11 IWAN STEPHENS 

10 BRETT CONNON 

9 HUGH O’SULLIVAN 

REPLACEMENTS 

ADAM BROCKLEBANK 

JAMIE BLAMIRE 

EDUARDO BELLO 

PEDRO RUBIOLO 

SEBASTIAN DE CHAVES 

FREDDIE LOCKWOOD 

SAM CROSS 

CALLUM CHICK (C) 

16 BRYAN BYRNE 17 PHIL BRANTINGHAM 18 MURRAY MCCALLUM, 19 JOHN HAWKINS 

20 PHILIP VAN DER WALT 21 SAM STUART 22 CAMERON HUTCHISON, 23 BEN STEVENSON 

ERONI MAWI 

THEO DAN 

ALEC CLAREY 

CALLUM HUNTER-HILL 

HUGH TIZARD 

JUAN MARTIN GONZALEZ 

ANDY CHRISTIE 

TOM WILLIS 

REPLACEMENTS 

16 JAMES HADFIELD 17 TOM WEST 18 CHRISTIAN JUDGE 19 OLLIE STONHAM 

20 BILLY VUNIPOLA 21 GARETH SIMPSON 22 MANU VUNIPOLA 23 LUCIO CINTI 

AWAY 

REFEREE: ANTHONY WOODTHORPE 

ASSISTANT REFEREES: HARRY WALBAUM, WAYNE FALLA 

TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL: ANDREW JACKSON 

TIME KEEPER: ALAN HUGHES 

CITING OFFICER: BUDGE POUNTNEY

ALEX 

CODLING 

Thank you all for coming to this afternoon’s game, and welcome 

to Mark McCall and his Saracens side. 

It is an exciting challenge for us to be pitting ourselves against 

the Gallagher Premiership champions when they have been 

bolstered by their returning internationals, and it’s sign of 

what a great league this is when you look at the standard of 

opposition every single week. 

The players and staff here working incredibly hard to take the 

next step in turning pressure into points, and I’m sure you all 

shared our frustration last weekend at Harlequins. 

We created plenty of attacking opportunities but did not convert 

them into tries, and that’s the difference at this level. 

and you could see the quality they bring to the side. 

I thought Eduardo Bello helped shore up our scrum when he 

came on for his debut, and against his former club today I am 

sure he will be going all-out to help us get the result. 

Off the field it has been a big couple of weeks for the club with 

the installation of our new gym in the West Stand. It’s a significant 

investment from the club and a facility I’ve pushed hard 

for, because athletes at this elite level need to have the right 

environment to get the best out of themselves. 

The benefits of that will be seen over the medium to long term, 

although of course it is not lost on us that we have the more 

immediate challenge of getting wins on the board. 

IT WAS FANTASTIC TO 

SEE THE RETURN OF 

OUR FOUR ARGENTINA 

PLAYERS FROM RUGBY 

WORLD CUP DUTY 

I said to the media afterwards we felt like a boxer who was 

throwing lots of jabs without landing the knockout blow, and it 

has been a continual theme for us in our four league games this 

season. 

I can’t fault the effort and ambition of the lads and we will 

continue to work hard to find the answers, driven in no small 

part by the backing of our outstanding supporters. 

It was fantastic to see the return of our four Argentina players 

from Rugby World Cup duty, although we did lose Matias Moroni 

with a gash on his shin. They are great people who love this club 

Those thoughts are obviously put into perspective today with 

the match falling on Remembrance Sunday, and I’m sure our 

supporters will join both sets of players and staff in observing a 

moment’s silence before kick-off for those who have made the 

ultimate sacrifice for our country. 

Thank you again for your attendance today, and I hope you enjoy 

the game. 

CODDERS 

ALEX CODLING - HEAD COACH’S NOTES 

5

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9

Having come through the famed Leinster academy and onto 

Newcastle via Bristol, hooker Bryan Byrne is determined to 

write another positive chapter in his rugby story. 

BRYAN 

BYRNE 

“The five 

brothers all 

got involved in 

rugby 

The 30-year-old brought impressive calibre to the North East 

when he arrived in the summer, winning the Pro 14, Heineken 

Champions Cup and British & Irish Cup with Leinster before 

being part of a Bristol Bears squad which lifted the EPCR 

Challenge Cup. 

Capped by Ireland at Under-18s, 19s and 20s levels, Byrne 

scored 12 tries in 44 appearances for Bristol and has already 

featured three times for the Falcons. 

“I’m from a place called Carlow which is about an hour away 

from Dublin,” says the hooker, when asked about where it all 

began. 

“I started playing mini rugby for Carlow Under-7s through 

to Under-12s, at which point I went to boarding school at 

Clongowes Wood College. We had a few successful years there 

with a good group of players and were fortunate enough to win 

some silverware, and I went on to the Leinster Academy from 

there. 

“We were a sporty enough family with five boys and one 

girl, and the five brothers all got involved in rugby. My eldest 

brother is 35, I have a brother who is 31, myself and my twin 

are both 30 and then we have a drop-off to our youngest 

brother at 22.” 

His twin Ed is a prop who has gone on to success with Leinster 

and Ireland, with Bryan revealing the family’s wider sporting 

interests. 

“I played a bit of Gaelic football all the way through my youth, 

which is a summer sport, so it works well with playing rugby in 

the winter,” he says. 

“The Gaelic football scene is pretty big, and even in Carlow 

there are something like 15 different clubs. I kept busy with 

that, but I always loved my rugby. Back in the glory days of 

Under-14s I played a bit in the centres, but I quickly got shifted 

into the front row! 

“My school team was decent and we had a couple of lads who 

pushed through, like Conor Gilsenan with London Irish, Max 

McFarland who played in the Olympics for GB 7s and my twin 

brother Ed. A few other boys played provincial stuff and then 

dropped off, but I always enjoyed my rugby and it was great fun 

down at Carlow. It’s not a club with a host of household names 

who have played 

there, although I do remember Felipe Contepomi played 

one game for them back in the day when he first signed for 

Leinster!” 

Spotted early and drafted into Leinster’s star-studded set-up, 

Byrne says: “My first real involvement with Leinster was at 

Under-16s, and then they keep a core group together where 

you gradually get more and more integrated. 

“Richardt Strauss would have been there as a senior hooker 

around that time, who played for Ireland, Sean Cronin and 

Shane Byrne were there at varying points, as was John Fogarty, 

so Leinster have been blessed with some great hookers 

through the years. 

PLAYER INTERVEIW - BRYAN BYRNE 

11

“Leinster have 

been blessed with 

some great hookers 

through the years” 

“It’s a class environment to be part of and the standards are 

unbelievably huge. The competition is insane because you’ve 

got two or three internationals in each position, and you have 

to be on the very top of your game to even get into the matchday 

23. That’s what drives the standards, and they have a good 

balance between enjoyment and putting the work in. 

“Coming over to Bristol was basically just in search of more 

playing opportunities, and when Pat Lam gave me a call about 

signing for them I knew it was something I wanted to do. 

“The timing wasn’t great because I came over and made my 

debut for them just one week before lockdown when Covid 

“I made my debut 

for Bristol one week 

before the first 

lockdown” 

first came in, so I played a game against Harlequins and then 

had to be locked away in a flat on my own for three or four 

months. 

“Joe Schmidt was there as coach when I first came into the 

academy before he went on to the Ireland job, then it was Matt 

O’Connor, and finally the Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster era 

for a good few years.” 

Becoming a valued member of the Dublin-based province for 

whom he played almost 50 games, Byrne’s next move was 

across the English Channel. 

“I got my first cap for Leinster when I was 20 and moved to 

Bristol when I was 26,” he recalls. 

“I had some great memories during that time with Leinster, but 

if I had to pick one it would be winning the Pro 14 final in 2019 

when we beat Glasgow at Celtic Park. My twin brother and I 

both came on from the bench, and that was a special day for 

us. 

“That was tough, being away from my family during that 

period, but they’re coming over for the game this weekend and 

I’m sure they’ll have a great time here. 

“After that initial period of being on my own I moved in with 

an old Leinster team-mate Ian Madigan, who was playing for 

Bristol at the time, and later on I moved in with Jake Heenan 

and his wife, which worked out well. 

“The first season I was there we were top of the league and got 

beat in the semi-final, but the set-up and facilities they have 

there are class. I really enjoyed my three years at Bristol but I 

felt like I needed some more game time, and when Alex Codling 

called me about coming up to Newcastle I knew that would be 

the right move for me.” 

Drawn to the North East by Codling’s enthusiasm and ambition, 

Byrne said: “Codders told me the vision he had for the Falcons, 

it sounded very appealing and it was all tied up pretty quickly 

from there. 

“I’ve really enjoyed it since I arrived in the summer – it’s a class 

group of lads and despite the league results not going our way I 

still feel like we’re building nicely. 

“I had a good stint here in pre-season, and as well as the gym 

and the rugby work the coaches really kept the guys interested 

with some of the activities and off-site stuff they put into our 

schedule. It helps the lads get to know each other and bed into 

the group, which when you’ve got as many new signings as us 

this season is really important.” 


13

Making his debut away at Ampthill and his first Premiership 

start last weekend at Harlequins, he adds: “We had a decent 

enough Prem Cup campaign with just one defeat from five, 

and while we’re obviously disappointed at being win-less in the 

league there has been some good stuff from us during all of 

those games. 

“We’re creating loads of opportunities and felt that a number 

of those games could have gone our way, with pretty narrow 

results against Northampton, Gloucester and Bath. 

“Last Saturday at Harlequins, even though the score-line blew 

out in the end we created plenty of scoring chances and just 

didn’t capitalise on them, so that’s where a lot of the focus has 

been this week going into Saracens. 

“Increasing training standards to hold people accountable has 

been another big emphasis, because you need to make sure 

you’re on the money at this level. 

“The Quins game was a frustrating one because we started 

strongly and could have been one or two tries up, but then 

they had one opportunity and took it. I got yellow-carded which 

didn’t help things because they scored a couple of times when 

we were a man down, and it’s an uphill task from there.” 

Well aware of the need to keep the Falcons faithful on board, 

Byrne outlined how he and his fellow players are determined to 

reward the commitment of their supporters. 

“It’s understandable that fans will be unhappy when you’re in a 

run of defeats, and it’s something that as a playing group have 

spoken about,” he says. 

“Our supporters travel great lengths to come and get behind 

us, and that’s never lost on the players. They turn up at 

Kingston Park in numbers and give us great backing, and we’re 

desperate to put on a performance which reflects and rewards 

that. 

“They’ve had to come out in some atrocious weather for the 

last couple of home games, and that commitment is unreal. 

You can hear them throughout the whole game, even when 

we’re behind, and it’s a big onus among the squad to put on a 

show this weekend.” 

Undaunted by the prospect of facing a power-packed Saracens 

side, he insists: “These are 100% the games that we look 

forward to, because you want to beat the best teams. 

“These are 100% the 

games that we look 

forward to” 

“It’s not a question of being daunted by playing against all 

these star names, it’s about testing yourself against the best 

and coming out on top in front of your own supporters. 

“We know it’s a tough assignment in facing arguably the best 

team in the country, but what a statement that would be if 

wewere able to beat the champions and show people what we 

are really about. It’s exactly the challenge that we want, and 

hopefully we nail it.” 

Up against a multi-faceted threat, he adds: “Saracens have 

really expanded their game over the last year. 

“There was a time when they were more about kick-chase and 

putting pressure on you in that way, which they still do, but 

they’ve also added more of a running and offloading game. 

They’ve brought some more flair as well as that famously 

pragmatic approach, and their physicality is another big 

weapon. 

“We’ll have to nullify their threats if we’re going to impose our 

own game onto them, but the focus has been good during 

the week and we’re all excited by the opportunity we have on 

Sunday.” 

Happy off the field as well as on it, Byrne says life in the North 

East is a perfect fit. 

“Newcastle is a great city, and my fiancée Sarah and I both love 

it here. We get out to the coast a fair bit and it’s an unreal city 

with everything always going on. We’ve been to St James’ Park 

to watch Newcastle United, which was incredible, and the place 

was buzzing. 

“We live out in Gosforth so we kind of get the best of both 

worlds, and it’s nice to be able to enjoy your life outside of 

rugby.” 


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COMMUNITY 

OCTOBER CAMP 

ROUND-UP 

The Falcons Community October half-term coaching camps 

were a great success despite the ever-changing weather. 

“We were impressed by our participants’ resilience to cope with 

weather conditions, and ability producing impressive skills. A 

particular highlight was hosting a well-attended girls’ camp 

with multiple clubs across the region represented. Bring on the 

Christmas camps!” 

TYNEMET OPEN 

EVENT 

There was a great turn-out at the recent Tynemet Rugby 

Excellence Programme open event with an overwhelming 

number of young individuals showing great interest in the 

course which is delivered alongside Tyne Metropolitan College. 

It was fantastic to see so many passionate and talented 

individuals coming together. We are grateful to all who attended 

and made the event a memorable one, and looking forward to 

seeing you all in the new academic year. 

If you couldn’t attend the open event or would like to find out 

more information about the Rugby Excellence Programme, 

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

FALCONS FIT 

Falcons Community has had an amazing six weeks of Falcons 

Fit, which has now reached the halfway mark. It celebrates 30 

enthusiastic participants turning up each week, committed to 

improving their health. 

Over the past six weeks, Falcons Community has worked closely 

with Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital to educate individuals 

on effective health interventions and lifestyle adjustments to 

help improve participants’ overall health and wellbeing. 

The programme has consisted of a combination of rugbythemed 

physical activity, strength and conditioning gym 

sessions and healthy lifestyle workshops. Falcons Community 

have also encouraged participants to increase their movement 

by setting a weekly step count goal. 

For more information about Falcons Fit or other programmes 

we offer to improve health and wellbeing, please contact 

falconscommunity@newcastlefalcons.co.uk. 

Over the course of two weeks Falcons Community delivered 

a series of half-term coaching camps at Kingston Park and 

Consett RFC which saw over 150 participants attend and 

improve their rugby skills through a range of fun and engaging 

activities and games. 

Despite the harsh weather conditions the community coaches 

worked tirelessly to ensure that the participants received 

the best possible coaching, using all space available around 

Kingston Park Stadium. Their hard work paid off as all the 

participants showed great improvement by the end of the 

camp. 

Overall, the October coaching camps were a great success. 

The participants had a fantastic time and learned a lot, and the 

coaches were happy to have played a part in their development. 

The Foundation is already looking forward to the next round of 

coaching camps which will be held across the Christmas Holidays 

at Kingston Park Stadium. 

The dates for our Christmas camps are: 

Jan 3: Kingston Park Stadium, 6-14 years, boys and girls, 11am 

– 2pm, £17. 

COMMUNITY NEWS 

One of the highlights was the girls’ camp, which saw an 

impressive turn-out of young female rugby players from a 

range of clubs across the North East. The girls worked hard 

and showed great determination, and their enthusiasm for the 

sport was truly inspiring. 

Falcons community development officer Chris Ure said: 

“Weather and pitch conditions posed a bit of a challenge, 

meaning some of our camps had indoor sessions. 

Jan 4: Kingston Park Stadium, 6-14 years, boys and girls 11am 

– 2pm, £17. 

Jan 5: Kingston Park Stadium, 6-14 years, boys and girls, 4pm 

-6pm, £35 

(including match ticket and gift). 

For more information please email 

falconscommunity@newcastle-falcons.co.uk. 


18 

19


20 

21

CLUB NEWS 

SUPPORTERS’ 

CLUB TRIP TO 

The match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road is a 3pm kick-off. 

LEICESTER 

Newcastle Falcons’ Supporters’ Club are running return coach 

travel to the Gallagher Premiership game at Leicester Tigers on 

Sunday December 3. 

Return coach travel for adults is priced at £30 for Supporters’ 

Club members and £35 for non-members, while for juniors it is 

£15 for members and £17.50 for non-members. 

Please note, these prices do not include match tickets, with 

departure times as follows: 

9.30am: Kingston Park 

9.50am: Washington Services 

10.30am: Scotch Corner 

5.45pm: Return journey departs 

To book, email keithevans2105@gmail.com or call Keith on 

07812 975 220. Payment can be made direct to account 

number 13503976 and sort code 20-59-61. 

Newcastle Falcons are grateful to our independent Supporters’ 

Club for their continued backing, and look forward to seeing 

you in Leicester! 

FALCONS’ 

BUSINESS CLUB 

TAKES FLIGHT 

Newcastle Falcons’ re-launched Business Club is the ideal way 

for your company to network and hear expert advice from a 

range of distinguished speakers. 

Sir Graham Wylie CBE, co-founder of Sage Group, was the 

special guest for the opening event of the season, held at Newcastle 

Falcons’ official restaurant partner, the stylish Gaucho. 

A plethora of local businesses were in attendance to hear 

about Sir Graham’s journey to the top, with the breakfast event 

reserved exclusively for members of the Falcons’ Business 

Club. 

The popular session received positive feedback from 

attendees, with the talk followed by a Q&A as guests enjoyed 

the opportunity to learn from Wylie’s renowned business 

acumen. 

Another fascinating insight for Falcons Business Club members 

is in store when rugby legend Tony Underwood is the guest 

speaker for an event at Kingston Park Stadium, sponsored by 

law firm Irwin Mitchell. 

Held on December 5, the networking opportunity will see 

guests learning from a man who has transitioned from 

international sporting success in the commercial world, firstly 

as a pilot and more recently as a renowned consultant in 

leadership and resilience. 

This event is exclusive to Falcons Business Club members. 

To learn more about the club and to discuss securing your 

membership, please emai; 

corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk. 

FLY WITH THE 

FALCONS 

Travel on Newcastle Falcons’ team charter flight when we take 

on Perpignan in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The match at Stade 

Aime Giral sees the Falcons returning to Catalan country for the 

first time in 20 years. 

Book direct by emailing 

jodie.jinks@travelcounsellors.com. 

CLUB NEWS 

22 

Our flight-only package is priced at £350 and will see you flying 

with the players and support staff direct from Newcastle to 

Perpignan on Saturday January 20. 

The game takes place the following afternoon, with the return 

flight back to Newcastle later that day. Please note, hotel, 

transfers and match ticket are not included.

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

WELCOME TO THE 

FIRST TEAM 

TRUE NORTH 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 - 24 

PLAYERS 

PHIL 

BRANTINGHAM 

PROP 

BORN: 02/10/01 

HEIGHT: 1.83M (6FT) 

WEIGHT: 117KG (18ST 5) 

SPONSORED BY 

ADAM 

BROCKLEBANK 

PROP 

BORN: 06/09/95 

HEIGHT: 1.88M (6FT 1) 


HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS 

AVAILABLE TO 

SPONSOR 

LOUIS 

BROWN 

FULL-BACK 

BORN: 17/02/98 



HONOURS: ENGLAND 

COUNTIES U18 

SPONSORED BY 

BRYAN 

BYRNE 

HOOKER 

BORN: 09/09/93 

HEIGHT: 1.78M (5FT 10) 


HONOURS: IRELAND U20 

AVAILABLE TO 

SPONSOR 

1. 1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM PLAYERS 

JOSH 

BAINBRIDGE 

SPONSORED BY 

JOSH 

BARTON 

EDUARDO 

BELLO 

SPONSORED BY 

JAMIE 

BLAMIRE 

SPONSORED BY 

MATEO 

CARRERAS 

BACK ROW 

SCRUM-HALF 

PROP 

HOOKER 

LOCK 

WING 

BACK ROW 

FLY-HALF 

BORN: 17/04/96 BORN: 15/12/97 BORN: 27/11/95 BORN: 22/12/97 

BORN: 13/01/97 

BORN: 17/12/99 

BORN: 25/11/96 

BORN: 29/08/96 

HEIGHT: 1.83M (6 FT) HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT) HEIGHT: 1.90M (6FT 2) HEIGHT: 1.85M (6FT) 





WEIGHT: 103KG (16 ST 3) WEIGHT: 85KG (13ST 5) WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 12) 


WEIGHT: 121KG (19ST) 




HONOURS: ENGLAND U20S 

HONOURS: ARGENTINA 


HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS HONOURS: ARGENTINA 



AVAILABLE TO 

SPONSOR 

TIM 

CARDALL 

SPONSORED BY 

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CALLUM 

CHICK 

SPONSORED BY 

Geoff & Marie 

Penrice 

BRETT 

CONNON 

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26 27

1. 

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

1. 

SAM 

CROSS 

BACK ROW 

BORN: 28/8/92 


WEIGHT: 100KG(15ST 10) 

HONOURS: WALES 

SEBASTIAN 

DE CHAVES 

JAMES 

ELLIOTT 

JOHN 

HAWKINS 

LOCK 

SCRUM-HALF 

LOCK 

BORN: 30/10/90 BORN: 29/08/98 

BORN: 11/11/96 

HEIGHT: 2.02M (6FT 6) HEIGHT: 1.77M (5FT 10) 


WEIGHT: 117KG (18ST 5) WEIGHT: 82KG (12ST 13) 


HONOURS: SOUTH AFRICA U20 HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS 

CAMERON 

HUTCHISON 

CENTRE 

BORN: 01/06/98 

HEIGHT: 1.82M (6 FT) 

WEIGHT: 102KG (16 ST 1) 

HONOURS: SCOTLAND U20 

FREDDIE 

LOCKWOOD 

BACK ROW 

BORN: 31/12/00 



HONOURS: ENGLAND U19 

CHARLIE 

MADDISON 

HOOKER 

BORN: 24/06/91 



MURRAY 

MCCALLUM 

PROP 

BORN: 16/03/96 




AVAILABLE TO 

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SPONSORED BY 

Jacksons Law 

Firm 

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The Business 

Agility Coach 

1. 

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OLLIE 

LEATHERBARROW 

BACK ROW 

BORN: 08/04/02 



HONOURS: SCOTLAND U20 

SPONSORED BY 

RORY 

JENNINGS 

SPONSORED BY 

JONH 

KELLY 

SPONSORED BY 

ZACH 

KERR 

SPONSORED BY 

KIRAN 

MCDONALD 

MATIAS 

MORONI 

SPONSORED BY 

ELLIOTT 

OBATOYINBO 

SPONSORED BY 

MATIAS 

ORLANDO 

FLY-HALF/CENTRE 

LOCK/BACK ROW 

CENTRE/WING 

LOCK 

CENTRE 

FULL-BACK 

CENTRE 

BORN: 24/12/95 BORN: 11/10/95 BORN: 13/12/99 BORN: 01/11/94 

BORN: 10/07/91 

BORN: 09/10/98 

BORN: 14/11/91 












HONOURS: ENGLAND U20S 




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28 29

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1. 1. 

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1. 

HUGH 

O’SULLIVAN 

SCRUM-HALF 

BORN: 24/2/98 




RICHARD 

PALFRAMAN 

TOM 

PENNY 

GUY 

PEPPER 

PROP 

FULL-BACK 

BACK ROW 

BORN: 20/12/93 BORN: 13/10/94 

BORN: 15/04/03 





HONOURS: ENGLAND STUDENTS HONOURS: ENGLAND U18 

BEN 

STEVENSON 

WING/CENTRE 

BORN: 19/7/98 




SAM 

STUART 

SCRUM-HALF 

BORN: 27/09/91 




MARK 

TAMPIN 

PROP 

BORN: 20/01/92 



JOSH 

THOMAS 

FLY-HALF 

BORN: 30/06/00 



HONOURS: WALES U20 

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SPONSORED BY 

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1. 

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SQUAD 2023-24 - FIRST TEAM STAFF 

VEREIMI 

QOROWALE 

WING/CENTRE 

BORN: 27/01/95 

HEIGHT: 1.86M (5FT 11) 

WEIGHT: 102KG (16 ST 1) 

HONOURS: BRITISH ARMY 

AVAILABLE TO 

SPONSOR 

ADAM 

RADWAN 

WING 

BORN: 30/12/97 




SPONSORED BY 

The 

Blackbirds 

PEDRO 

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PHILIP 

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LOCK 

BORN: 14/07/89 



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MICHAEL 

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BORN: 28/09/91 



HONOURS: SOUTH AFRICA U20 

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BORN: 23/10/95 




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30 31

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 - 24 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

FIRST TEAM 

STAFF 

JOHN 

STOKOE 

TEAM MANAGER 

STEVE 

BREMNER 

PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

MATT 

HODKINSON 

PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

KEVIN 

MCSHANE 

HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

LEWIS 

WILLIAMS 

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH 

SHAUN 

MCLAREN 

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH 

RHYS 

GRIFFITHS 

HEAD PHYSIO 

ANDY 

SHEA 

PHYSIO 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 


ALEX 

CODLING 

HEAD COACH 

MICKY 

WARD 

COACH 

MARK 

LAYCOCK 

COACH 

SCOTT 

BALDWIN 

COACH 

DERMOT 

AUSTIN 

PHYSIO 

RACHEL 

SCURFIELD 

LEAD DOCTOR 

DEAN 

SHIPSEY 

MATCH-DAY DOCTOR 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

MATT 

GLOVER 

KIT CO-ORDINATOR 

ALAN 

BASKERVILLE 

KIT CO-ORDINATOR 

ANDREW 

CRUICKSHANK 

PSYCHOLOGIST 

ANDY 

RAMSHAW 

MATCH-DAY DOCTOR 

LINDSAY 

MCNAUGHTON 

PERFORMANCE NUTRITIONIST 


32 33

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

SENIOR 

WELCOME TO THE 

TRUE NORTH 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 -24 

ACADEMY 

BEN 

DOUGLAS 

SPONSORED BY 

OLLIE 

FLETCHER 

NATHAN 

GREENWOOD 

SCRUM-HALF 

HOOKER 

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BORN: 16/01/04 BORN: 09/09/02 

BORN: 20/11/03 

HEIGHT: 1.77M (5FT 8) HEIGHT: 1.83M (6FT) 






HONOURS: GREAT BRITAIN 7S 

JOAN MILNE 

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LOUIE 

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FLY-HALF 

BORN: 13/06/03 




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1. 1. 1. 

1. 

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 

SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS 

FINN 

BAKER 

SAM 

CLARK 

LUKE 

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LOCK PROP LOCK 

BORN: 17/10/04 BORN: 31/1/04 BORN: 17/07/04 

HEIGHT: 2.01M (6FT 7) HEIGHT: 1.84M (6FT) HEIGHT: 2M (6FT 6) 

WEIGHT: 100KG (15ST 10) WEIGHT: 120KG (18ST 13) WEIGHT: 95KG (14ST 13) 



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BORN: 30/03/05 BORN: 15/3/05 

BORN: 10/1/05 


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SPONSORED BY 

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MIKE 

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PROP 

BORN: 17/05/04 




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SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS 

34 

35

1. 1. 

1. 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

ADAM 

SCOTT 

OLIVER 

SPENCER 

MARCUS 

TIFFEN 

LOCK 

FULL-BACK 

BACK ROW 

BORN: 27/11/01 BORN: 22/2/04 

BORN: 03/09/02 







KEITH 

ROBINSON 

ACADEMY DPP MANAGER 

NICK 

TODD 

ACADEMY PERFORMANCE 

MANAGER 

1. 1. 

1. 

MICHAEL 

FERGUSON 

SENIOR ACADEMY STRENGTH 

& CONDITIONING COACH 

JOE 

MARTIN 

JUNIOR ACADEMY ATHLETIC 

DEVELOPMENT COACH 

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SPONSOR 

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SPONSOR 

AVAILABLE TO 

SPONSOR 

CATHERINE 

BOAL 

ACADEMY PHYSIO 

JAKE 

GRIFFIN 

ACADEMY PHYSIO 

CHERYL 

ABDUL 

ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR 

SQUAD 2023-24 - SENIOR ACADEMY PLAYERS + ACADEMY STAFF 

36 

STAFF 

1. 1. 1. 

1. 

ACADEMY 

JAMES 

PONTON 

HEAD OF ACADEMY 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 2023 -24 

TOM 

WILLIAMS 

TRANSITION COACH 

PJ 

BUTLER 

ACADEMY COACH 

JACK 

HAYES 

ACADEMY COACH 

BE PART OF THE TEAM 

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER, EMAIL 

corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk 

0191 214 2892 

SQUAD 2023-24 - ACADEMY STAFF 

37

PLAYER STATS 

Name 

Falcons 

career 

apps 


career 

points 


career 

tries 

Season 

2023-24 

apps 

Season 

2023-24 

points 

Season 

2023-24 

tries 

Name 


career 

apps 


career 

points 


career 

tries 

Season 

2023-24 

apps 

Season 

2023-24 

points 

Season 

2023-24 

tries 

Josh Bainbridge 4 0 0 4 0 0 Freddie Lockwood 32 10 2 7 5 1 

Finn Baker 1 0 0 1 0 0 Charlie Maddison 27 5 1 0 0 0 

Josh Barton 11 10 2 2 0 0 Murray McCallum 6 0 0 6 0 0 

Eduardo Bello 1 0 0 1 0 0 Kiran McDonald 7 5 1 7 5 1 

Jamie Blamire 94 115 23 5 15 3 Matias Moroni 16 5 1 1 0 0 

Phil Brantingham 16 0 0 8 0 0 Elliott Obatoyinbo 24 15 3 6 0 0 

Adam Brocklebank 108 0 0 9 0 0 Jacob Oliver 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Louis Brown 2 10 2 2 10 2 Matias Orlando 42 20 4 7 5 1 

Bryan Byrne 3 0 0 3 0 0 Hugh O'Sullivan 7 0 0 7 0 0 

Tim Cardall 4 0 0 4 0 0 Richard Palframan 31 0 0 3 0 0 

Mateo Carreras 37 80 16 1 0 0 Tom Penny 92 50 10 6 0 0 

Callum Chick 131 95 19 6 0 0 Guy Pepper 15 20 4 8 5 1 

Sam Clark 1 0 0 1 0 0 Max Pepper 1 5 1 1 5 1 

Brett Connon 95 465 2 7 45 0 Vereimi Qorowale 2 5 1 0 0 0 

Luke Coulston 1 0 0 0 0 0 Adam Radwan 101 260 52 7 15 3 

Sam Cross 6 0 0 6 0 0 Ben Redshaw 4 0 0 4 0 0 

Sebastien de Chaves 46 5 1 7 5 1 Mike Rewcastle 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mark Dormer 4 0 0 1 0 0 Pedro Rubiolo 9 5 1 1 0 0 

Ben Douglas 5 5 1 2 5 1 Adam Scott 0 0 0 0 0 0 

James Elliott 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oliver Spencer 1 0 0 1 0 0 

Ollie Fletcher 12 15 3 4 10 2 Iwan Stephens 16 45 9 4 25 5 

Nathan Greenwood 1 5 1 0 0 0 Ben Stevenson 71 90 20 5 10 2 

John Hawkins 2 0 0 2 0 0 Sam Stuart 89 40 8 7 0 0 

Cameron Hutchison 3 0 0 3 0 0 Mark Tampin 81 0 0 7 0 0 

Rory Jennings 4 0 0 4 0 0 Corbin Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Louie Johnson 8 33 1 4 25 1 Josh Thomas 12 19 0 3 2 0 

Isaac Keller 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marcus Tiffen 9 10 2 2 0 0 

John Kelly 4 0 0 4 0 0 Philip van der Walt 45 15 3 4 0 0 

Zach Kerr 15 15 3 4 5 1 Michael van Vuuren 6 5 1 6 5 1 

Ollie Leatherbarrow 2 0 0 2 0 0 George Wacokecoke 65 85 17 1 5 1 

PLAYER STATS 

39

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ALL OUR YESTERDAYS 

ALL OUR 

YESTERDAYS 

Kingsley Hyland’s journey 

through the club archives 

continues, with reflections 

on games played 20, 10 and 5 

years ago. 

20 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 9, 2003 

ENGLAND 28-17 WALES 

On this weekend 20 years ago domestic rugby was completely 

overshadowed by the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in 

Australia. 

On the back of a long and successful run including victories 

over Australia and New Zealand down under England had been 

installed as pre-tournament favourites, and whilst they had 

been relatively untroubled in their pool matches they had not 

been at their best. That was certainly true for much of this 

match as they were outscored by three tries to one. 

England were unusually sloppy as Jonny Wilkinson missed an 

early penalty, passes went to ground and Dan Luger had a 

match he will not remember with fondness. Wales, in contrast, 

really came at England and scored two tries in the opening 

quarter. 

England should have heeded the warning as Wales had led New 

Zealand going into the last quarter of their previous game, 

and Robert Sidoli had already come close to scoring before 

dropping the ball over the line. 

The first try came when Mike Tindall kicked for Ben Kay to 

chase, but Shane Williams countered for Wales. The move was 

carried on by scrum-half Gareth Cooper, and Stephen Jones 

crossed for a try which he couldn’t convert. 

Jones then put in a long clearing kick which set up a Welsh 

line-out. Sidoli secured the ball and Colin Charvis scored 

from the resulting drive. Jones again missed the conversion. 

Wilkinson did manage to kick a penalty, but the favourites 

trailed 3-10 at the break. 

England conjured a try out of nothing four minutes into the 

second half. Jason Robinson set off from inside his own half 

and went on a brilliant diagonal run through the Welsh defence 

to set up the try for Will Greenwood. Wilkinson converted, and 

the scores were finally level. 

England then made a major tactical change which was to alter 

the whole shape of the match. 

Wilkinson had been unusually hesitant with his kicking 

from hand and England brought on Mike Catt to replace 

the struggling Luger, with Tindall moving to the wing to 

accommodate Catt in the centre. Catt proceeded to put in 

some raking kicks to put the Welsh under such pressure 

that they were forced into conceding penalty after penalty. 

Wilkinson kicked five of them and added a drop goal, and 

England appeared home and dry at 28-10. 

Wales did manage a third try when, after Mark Jones 

had butchered one effort, Martyn Williams seized on Ceri 

Sweeney’s kick towards the corner for a try that was 

converted by replacement Iestyn Harris. 

Harris then missed a penalty which would have put Wales 

within a converted score, but that was the end of the 

excitement as England saw out the match. 

The scores in the other quarter finals that weekend were as 

follows: 

New Zealand 29-9 South Africa 

Australia 33-16 Scotland 

France 43-21 Ireland 

The domestic league season continued throughout the 

2003 World Cup, with nine successive weeks of Premiership 

matches from September 14. 

On November 9 the Falcons played Rotherham Titans at 

Kingston Park, winning 56-10 with Tom May scoring a hat-trick. 

Rotherham were very much the whipping boys that season 

as they ended the campaign win-less, with just three losing 

bonus points to show for their efforts. 

Whilst Jonny Wilkinson’s goal-kicking was keeping England 

afloat in Brisbane, his understudy Dave 

46 

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Walder showed he was no slouch with the boot, scoring 21 

points with six conversions and three penalties. 

Apart from May’s hat-trick there were tries for Jamie Noon (2), 

James Grindal and replacement Matt Thompson. 

The Falcons team that day was as follows: 

B.Gollings; T.May; J.Noon; M.Mayerhofler; M.Stephenson; 

D.Walder; J.Grindal; I.Peel; N.Makin; M.Ward; C.Hamilton; 

G.Archer; J.Dunbar; W.Britz; P.Dowson. 


NEWCASTLE FALCONS 29-21 

LONDON IRISH 

The Falcons were adjusting to life back in the Premiership 

when the break from league action for the autumn 

internationals came along. 

The signs had been ominous when they went down 0-21 

to Bath on the opening weekend, but since then they had 

fashioned victories at Sale (15-14) and Worcester (16-11) and 

at home to London Irish two weeks earlier (13-11), but suffered 

defeats at Leicester (6-31), Saracens (3-40) and at home to 

Gloucester (16-22). 


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Just 3,742 turned up to watch a Falcons team with 11 changes 

from the previous weekend edge an entertaining LV= Cup 

game. 

When the cup had been launched in 1971 it was the only 

national domestic club competition, and would remain so until 

the introduction of the leagues in the mid-1980s. The cup 

winners could justifiably call themselves the champion club of 

England. 

The club won the cup twice (1975 and 1976) as Gosforth and 

twice more (2001 and 2004) as Newcastle Falcons as well as 

being beaten finalists in 1981 (Gosforth) and 1999 (Falcons). 

By the second decade of the new millennium the competition 

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opportunity for the Premiership clubs to give squad players 

an opportunity to shine in the spotlight. Both teams were 

therefore a mix of youth and experience. 

In the internationals England beat Argentina 31-12 at 

Twickenham, Scotland beat Japan 42-17 at Murrayfield, Wales 

were beaten 24-15 by South Africa at Cardiff, Ireland saw off 

Samoa 40-9 and at the Stade de France New Zealand were 

With the home team having the edge in the scrums two Rory 

Clegg penalties inside 11 minutes gave Newcastle an early 

6-0 lead. Irish responded when a scrum penalty of their own 

saw Shane Geraghty send out a long pass to right winger Tom 

Fowlie, who outstripped the defence to score in the corner. 

26-19 victors over France. 


NEWCASTLE FALCONS 22-7 BATH 

Clegg’s third penalty, this time from distance, made it 9-5, but 

two Geraghty penalties edged Irish ahead 11-9 as the break 

approached. 

Five years ago it was again the Premiership Rugby Cup which 

took centre stage in the domestic game as the autumn 

internationals were being played out. 


When given another penalty opportunity to regain the lead the 

Falcons opted to kick for the corner, and as the resulting maul 

edged towards the visitors’ line scrum half Warren Fury took 

over and touched down, Clegg’s conversion giving the Falcons 

a 16-11 lead at half-time. 

Irish full back Alex Lewington was to prove a thorn in the 

Falcons’ side over the next decade, and is still going strong at 

Saracens. Early in the second half he made a typically scything 

break to score between the posts, and with Geraghty adding 

the conversion the lead changed hands again. 

The Irish lead did not last long as yet another Clegg penalty 

made it 19-18 to the Falcons before Richard Mayhew, making 

his first start of the season after a foot injury, scored from a 

rolling maul. With Clegg adding the conversion there was clear 

daylight between the teams for the first time, with the Falcons 

leading 26-18 with 15 minutes remaining. 

With Geraghty replaced by Myles Dorrian Irish narrowed the 

deficit to a single score when Dorrian kicked a penalty. The 

Falcons had the last word, however, as Clegg maintained his 

record off the tee with his fifth penalty for a final score of 

29-21. 

The teams that afternoon were as follows: 

Newcastle: T.Catterick; N.Cato; D.Barnes; J.Fitzpatrick; 

Z.Kibirige; R.Clegg; W.Fury; G.Shiells; G.McGuigan; K.Brookes; 

F.McKenzie; S.MacLeod; R.Mayhew; W.Welch; C.York 

London Irish: A.Lewington; T.Fowlie; G.Armitage; S.Sa; A.Fenby; 

S.Geraghty; D.Allinson; M.Parr; M.Mayhew; J.Hagan; B.Toolis; 

K.Low; D.Danaher; D.Kelly; B.Cowan 

Following their impressive fourth-place finish in the 

Premiership the previous season the Falcons had made an 

inconsistent start to an 2018-19 campaign which would later 

see them relegated to the Championship. 

Although they had scored notable Heineken Champions Cup 

wins in Toulon (26-25), at home to Montpellier (23-20) and 

had beaten Harlequins (23-21) and drawn at home (22-22) to 

Exeter in the Premiership Rugby Cup, their sole victory in the 

league had been at Worcester (23-20). 

So they were propping up the table when the international 

break came along. With less pressure in the cup games and 

the opportunity to give game time to fringe players, the team 

produced a much-improved performance in the Friday-night 

rain. 

This victory was based on a dominant forward performance, 

and Bath were rarely in the contest. 

Michael Young opened the scoring on 18 minutes after a move 

involving young lock Andrew Davidson, and not-so-young 

winger Alex Tait. Joel Hodgson mastered the tricky conditions 

to add the conversion. 

The lead was extended to 10-0 when Hodgson added a penalty 

on 26 minutes, and so it remained at half-time. 

Just three minutes into the second period after a midfield 

break from Johnny Williams and inside pass from Hodgson, 

full-back Simon Hammersley crossed for the home side’s 

second try. When Hodgson again converted it was 17-0 and, 

unlike the weather, the Falcons seemed home and dry. 

Any doubt about the outcome as Bath used up their bench 

was removed 15 minutes from time when Sinoti Sinoti scored 

a trademark try wide out. Replacement Toby Flood couldn’t 

convert on this occasion but Josh Bayliss’ try, converted by 

Alex Davies, was no more than a consolation. 

The teams that night were as follows: 

Newcastle: S.Hammersley; A.Tait; P.Bettencourt (rep. 

B.Stevenson 56); J.Williams; S.Sinoti; J.Hodgson (rep. T.Flood 

59); M.Young (rep. S.Stuart 66); S.Lockwood (rep. T.Davison 

40); G.McGuigan (rep. K.Cooper 40); J.Welsh (rep. S.Wilson 40); 

C.Green; A.Davidson (rep. G.Young 59); R.Burrows (rep. J.Hardie 

62): G.Graham; C.Chick 

Bath: T.Homer (rep. J.Cockanasiga 56); J.Davis; J.Wilson; 

M.Clark; R.McConnochie; A.Davies; M.Green (rep. C.Cook 56); 

S.Vaughan (rep. Nixon 40); M.Van-Vuuren (rep. R.Batty 56); 

M.Lahiff (rep. V.Delmas 40); Britton; L.Douglas (rep. J.Bayliss 

45); Reid (rep. Doughty 29); Bainbridge; Davies. 

Pedro Bettencourt’s time at Kingston Park was relatively short 

lived as he returned to play in France, but five years later he 

played a big part in Portugal’s impressive performance at the 

recent World Cup. 

Simon Hammersley 

As for the internationals on the Saturday, an England team 

including the Falcons’ Mark Wilson playing at No.8 narrowly 

missed out 15-16 to New Zealand at Twickenham. The 

outcome hinged on an intervention from the TMO disallowing 

Sam Underhill a try in the dying minutes for offside against 

Courtney Lawes, who had charged down TJ Perenara’s 

attempted clearance kick. 

Wales scraped past Australia 9-6 in Cardiff, Scotland beat Fiji 

54-17 at Murrayfield and Ireland overcame Argentina in Dublin, 

28-17. 


50 

51

FIXTURES AND RESULTS 

FIXTURES AND RESULTS 

FOR 6-17 

YEAR OLDS 

SEPTEMBER 

PRC Sat Sep 9 Ampthill W 17-40 

PRC FRI SEP 15 BEDFORD BLUES W 26-16 

PRC FRI SEP 22 SALE SHARKS W 23-10 

PRC Sat Sep 30 Leicester Tigers L 60-7 

OCTOBER 

PRC SUN OCT 8 CALDY W 66-13 

GP Sat Oct 14 Bath L 34-26 

JANUARY 

GP FRI JAN 5 HARLEQUINS 7.45pm 

ECC FRI JAN 12 BENETTON RUGBY 8pm 

ECC Sun Jan 21 Perpignan 1pm 

GP Sat Jan 27 Northampton Saints 2pm 

MARCH 

GP Mar 22/23/24 Exeter Chiefs TBC 

GP MAR 29/30/31 LEICESTER TIGERS TBC 


52 

GP FRI OCT 20 GLOUCESTER (L 14-18) 

GP SUN OCT 29 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (L 14-16) 

NOVEMBER 

GP Sat Nov 4 Harlequins (L 40-12) 

GP SUN NOV 12 SARACENS 3pm 

GP Fri Nov 17 Sale Sharks 7.45pm 

GP SUN NOV 26 EXETER CHIEFS 3pm 

DECEMBER 

GP Sun Dec 3 Leicester Tigers 3pm 

ECC SUN DEC 10 MONTPELLIER 3.15pm 

ECC Sat Dec 16 Emirates Lions 3.15pm 

GP FRI DEC 22 BRISTOL BEARS 7.45pm 

GP Sat Dec 30 Saracens 3pm 

NEXT TIME AT KP 

V EXETER CHIEFS 

SUN NOV 26th 

Gallagher Prem 

Kick-off: 3:00 pm 

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

(Home games in capital letters) 

APRIL 

ECC Apr 5/6/7 Round of 16 

ECC Apr 12/13/14 Quarter-finals 

GP Apr 19/20/21 Bristol Bears TBC 

GP APR 26/27/28 SALE SHARKS TBC 

MAY 

ECC May 3/4/5 Semi-finals 

GP MAY 10/11/12 BATH TBC 

GP May 17/18/19 Gloucester TBC 

ECC Fri May 24 Final (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) 

JUNE 

ECC Apr 5/6/7 Round of 16 

ECC Apr 12/13/14 Quarter-finals 

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BY MARK SMITH - NEWCASTLE FALCONS MEDIA MANAGER 

The notion that rugby is living in a global village where borders mean 

nothing is increasingly hard to disagree with. 

That was certainly my impression last Friday when I trotted along 

to the Twickenham Stoop to watch a league game between a Welsh 

team and a South African team played in the capital of England. 

The URC match between the Ospreys and Sharks won’t go down as a 

classic, but it was the first time in years I’ve been able to attend an 

elite club rugby game without having to reach for my laptop every 

time a try was scored, and it was nice just being able to enjoy the 

action. 

The cosmopolitan crowd seemed to enjoy the URC clash on the eve of 

our own trip to Harlequins, with players from six different nationalities 

lining up for the Falcons against a Quins side boasting talent from both 

sides of the equator. 

Later that night I watched a recording of the rugby league 

international between England and a Tonga team coached by 

Australian Kristian Woolf and Englishman Paul Wellens. Players on both 

sides were either born or ply their trade in countries other than the 

one whose national shirt they were wearing, and the URC highlights 

show the following day included South African teams losing in Italy 

and Scotland. 

We are blessed with a strong contingent of Argentinian players 

here at the Falcons as we prepare for a fixture list which takes us 

to Johannesburg and Perpignan in the next few months, as well as 

hosting teams from France and Italy. 

The cultural melting pot of your average pro club is one of the 

beauties of the game as people from all parts of our planet come 

together to create sporting theatre, and the recent Rugby World Cup 

was a great advert. 

This was the first World Cup since 1999 where players were able to 

appear for a second national team, having already played for another. 

There are a few hoops to jump through, but we saw the likes of 

Charles Piutau and Lima Sopoaga playing for Tonga and Samoa respectively 

despite previously appearing for New Zealand. 

All well and good, but I can’t have been the only person feeling a bit 

uncomfortable seeing Jean Kleyn winning the tournament with South 

Africa despite playing the last one for Ireland. 

Is that really what the rule change was intended for? 

Jean Kleyn 

International rugby is now a virtual extension of the club game where 

allegiance and eligibility can change with the wind, and I do worry 

where this is all heading. 

Rugby is absolutely no stranger to players changing nationalities - it’s 

been going on for years and by no means do I blame the selectors or 

players taking advantage of perfectly legal loopholes. 

Maybe it’s just me and I need to update my outlook, but once you’ve 

chosen your team and appeared for them on the international stage – 

that should be that. 

FROM THE PRESS BOX - WITH MARK SMITH 

55

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LEFT 

WINGER 

ALEX LEWINGTON 

BELOW 

VERSATILE BACK 

ALEX GOODE 

IN OPPOSITION 

SARACENS 

NICKNAME 

Sarries, Wolf Pack 

FOUNDED 

1876 

HOME GROUND 

StoneX Stadium 

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY 

MARK MCCALL 

CAPTAIN 

Owen Farrell 

It has been a disjointed start to the season for the Gallagher 

Premiership champions, who have had 13 players away on 

Rugby World Cup duty and a mixed bag of results during the 

international showpiece. 

As well as England captain Owen Farrell their red-rose 

contingent over in France included Jamie George, Maro Itoje, 

Elliot Daly, Billy Vunipola, Ben Earl and Theo Dan, while there 

were also international call-ups for Nick Tompkins (Wales), 

Eroni Mawi (Fiji), Marco Riccioni (Italy) and Theo McFarland 

(Samoa). 

In their absence Sarries lost three of their five pool games in 

the Premiership Rugby Cup as well as their first two Gallagher 

Premiership encounters, although the return of their World Cup 

contingent has seen their season starting to pick up. 

A relatively low-key summer in the transfer market saw a 

trickle of new players rather than a river running through the 

door, although the demise of London Irish opened a window of 

opportunity for the champions to pounce. 

Argentina pair Lucio Cinti and Juan Martin Gonzalez were 

among the Exiles stars crossing the capital, where they were 

joined by Australia prop Ollie Hoskins and full-back Tom Parton. 

Former Wasps No.8 Tom Willis signed up after a short-term 

sojourn in Bordeaux, with former Worcester scrum-half Gareth 

Simpson, Leicester prop Tom West and Samoa’s Sam Asotasi 

also moving to StoneX Stadium. 

Departing the champions’ ranks were England wing Max 

Malins (Bristol), back-row stalwart Jackson Wray (retired), 

Scottish centre Duncan Taylor (retired) and prop Robin Hislop 

(Edinburgh), while Argentina tight-head Eduardo Bello 

moved to today’s hosts, Newcastle Falcons. 

The early weeks of the campaign proved tough going for a 

Saracens coaching ticket including a trio of former Falcons 

in Ian Peel,Joe Shaw and Adam Powell, with Ulsterman Mark 

McCall once again at the helm as director of rugby. 

An opening-day shock saw them losing 28-14 at Coventry in 

the Premiership Rugby Cup, and they fell 29-20 at home to 

Gloucester in round two. 

A 73-29 thumping of Nottingham earned their first win of the 

campaign but they fell 36-29 at Harlequins in the first London 

derby of the season, going on to end their Cup run by beating 

Hartpury 68-10. 

The surprise of the Gallagher Premiership’s opening round 

brought a humbling 65-10 drubbing away to old foes Exeter 

Chiefs, and week two was only marginally better as Bath were 

25-16 winners at the StoneX. 

A trip to Gloucester in round three saw their first win of the 

league season when they toppled the Cherry and Whites 

24-3, and last weekend’s visit of Leicester Tigers sees Sarries 

coming into today’s game on the back of a 32-17 triumph. 

Bolstered by a number of their returning internationals, McCall 

said: “I’m very pleased. It wasn’t perfect, far from it. I’m just 

surprised that those international players were as enthusiastic 

to come and play for their club as they were. 

“They haven’t been here, they’ve been training with a different 

team, a different system, but what we’ve found down the 

years is that these players are very good at coming back in and 

getting on board very quickly, and you saw that with the way 

they all played.” 

LEFT 

WALES CENTRE 

NICK TOMPKINS 

IN OPPOSITION - SARACENS 

61

ALEX LOZOWSKI NICK ISIEKWE SEAN MAITLAND 

centre/fly-half back row WING 

THREE TO 

WATCH 

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY 

MARK MCCALL 

Mark McCall joined Saracens from French side Castres in 2009. The former 

Ireland international had also previously enjoyed coaching stints 

at Ireland A and Under-21s before taking the helm at Irish province 

Ulster in 2004, leading the team to a Celtic League title after just two 

years in charge. 

During his tenure he has guided Saracens to six Premiership and three 

European titles, the most notable campaign coming in 2015-16 where 

the side achieved the Premiership and European Cup double. 

The 30-year-old playmaker can slot in at centre or fly-half, 

having joined Saracens from Wasps in 2016. 

Spending a season with French club Montpellier following Saracens’ 

relegation for salary cap breaches, Lozowski returned 

to the StoneX and started for the London club in last season’s 

Gallagher Premiership final as they defeated Sale Sharks. 

A talented footballer in his youth, Lozowski was part of Chelsea’s 

academy and is the son of former Wasps and England 

rugby player Rob Lozowski. 

Academy product Nick Isiekwe made his first team debut for 

Saracens at the age of just 18, having come through the Old 

Albanians club. 

Born in Hemel Hempstead, he made his England debut on their 

tour of Argentina in 2017 and has played more than a century 

of games for Sarries, playing in both the second row and back 

row. 

Now aged 25, he has already tasted domestic and European 

success with Saracens as well as winning 12 England caps to 

date. 

The Kiwi-born former Scotland winger has been a fixture in 

Saracens’ back-line since arriving from London Irish in 2016. 

Now aged 35, Maitland played age-group rugby for New 

Zealand and Super Rugby for the Crusaders before moving 

to Glasgow in 2012, qualifying for Scotland through his 

grandparents. 

Featuring for the Scots in Rugby World Cup 2015, he headed 

south to London Irish before heading across to capital to 

Saracens. 

IN OPPOSITION - SARACENS 

65

PARTNERS 

& Sponsors 

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 

2023-24 HOSPITALITY 

PACKAGES 

Discover 

SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE 

We have several great packages available including 

everything from a full five course meal or a cook to 

order pod to delicious street food there’s something 

for everyone to enjoy at our match days with pricing 

starting from £65 plus VAT per adult and £35 plus VAT per 

U18. Scan the QR or visit www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/ 

tickets-and-hospitality/hospitality to find out more. 

All our hospitality bookings are handled by our commercial 

team. To book or request additional details please contact 

the team by emailing 

corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk 

or call them on 0191 214 2892. 

SEASONAL 

Hospitality 

KINETIC PROPERTIES | MACRON | MY NAME’5 DODDIE | 0800 REPAIR | OAKES ENERGY 

JACK & JONQUIL STEWART | KEVIN & MARGIE WILSON | WADE BROWN | BORDERSTONE QUARRIES 

LOCKERBIE FAMILY | THE KNOWLEDGE SPIRAL LTD | IVANHOE FORGE LTD | RAILVIEW | NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY 

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KAI WHITING | TONY FLYNN | DH1 WATER SERVICES | CATERPILLAR PETERLEE | MERCURY ORTHOPAEDICS 

LONGSCAR MARINE CONSULTANTS | IAIN VARAH

WHITLEY BAY 

ROCKLIFF’S TRIBUTE 

TO THE FALLEN 

Support the Royal British Legion 

Poppy Appeal today 

Wearing your poppy shows the Armed Forces community 

that their service and sacrifice means something to you and 

will never be forgotten. 

Show your support today. 

rbl.org.uk/donate 

Registered charity number: 219279 

No one knows when or how the original Whitley Bay Rockcliff 

RFC war memorial disappeared until a group of members 

looked for it unsuccessfully some years ago. 

As everyone who has been involved in rugby knows, the fierce 

rivalries and lifelong friendships the game engenders, it was 

felt that it was important that those team-mates whose names 

had been forgotten should be commemorated fittingly by the 

present generation - and those yet to come. 

Initial research uncovered the names of four WBR men who 

had made the ultimate sacrifice, and a group of Whitley Bay 

Rockcliff members visited Ypres in 2021 to pay their respects 

on behalf of the club. 

Painstaking and time-consuming work thereafter by Richie 

Bloomfield, Eric Brooks and Micky Knott revealed a total of 14 

names of players who fell in the Great War of 1914-18 

Methodical research analysed press team listings in pre- war 

years, and identified those absent when Rugby resumed at 

the end of the hostilities. These were then cross-referenced 

against press reports, casualty lists and rolls of honour to 

establish their fates. Further research established the story of 

their lives, their rugby backgrounds and the circumstances of 

their death. 

A new Memorial was therefore commissioned to commemorate 

all those from WBR who perished in conflict, and its official 

unveiling preceded the Poppy Day Challenge match against 

Hartlepool Rovers on November 4 - a match developed with the 

British Legion for a trophy played for at WBR’s nearest home 

game to November 11. 

Poignantly, encapsulated within the new memorial is soil 

collected from the battlefield at the Somme, and the names of 

those club members who fell in both World Wars are inscribed 

upon it. 

The unveiling was carried out by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant 

Ed McNaught with the blessing given by John Vilaseca (Vicar 

of St Paul’s W Bay). Sir Alan Campbell MP, Penny Stewart (RFU 

Council member), officials from the Royal British Legion, local 

Army Cadets and members from the Armed Forces alongside 

members of WBR and their guests were also present. 

As were boys and girls with photographs of each of the WW1 

fallen from the age grade section of WBR from Under-6s to 

Colts. 

WBR will remember them. 

TEAM OF THE 

MONTH 

In conjunction with Newcastle Falcons, to whom we are 

indebted for their continuing support, Northumberland’s Team 

of the Month entries are now open for September and October. 

So if your club or team has had success or achieved something 

special on – or off the pitch - we want to know! 

For the chance to win 20 tickets to a Falcons match of your 

choice, please send your entry, preferably with photos, to 

deangray@northumberlandRFU.co.uk . 

NORTHUMBERLAND RUGBY UNION 

69

arbour.com 

GIMME 

FIVE! 

Our quickfire Q&A puts a Newcastle Falcons player 

under the spotlight, getting to know them on and off 

the field. 

This week it’s the turn of homegrown prop-forward, 

Phil Brantingham. 

Pre-match music? 

Rather contrasting genres but some Kenny Rogers or Phil 

Collins 

Cheat meal? 

Got to be an Indian. Dabbawal in Jesmond! 

Pre-match music? 

I like to listen to Argentinian music – a playlist with a mix 

of pop, rock, cumbia and cuarteto. 

Cheat meal? 

Definitely Argentinian BBQ!. 

Hobbies? 

Living the life of a retired man by golfing and fishing in 

Northumberland. 

Ideal holiday destination? 

Wherever Newcastle United are playing! 

Rugby hero? 

Doddie Weir 

GIMMIE FIVE! - PHIL BRANTINGHAM 

71

SUSTAINABILITY AT NEWCASTLE RUGBY LIMITED: 

Championing the Future of Sport and the Planet 

Another team 

you can count on 

Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital 

At Newcastle Rugby Limited, we are committed to driving sustainability in the world of 

sports and entertainment. Our vision extends beyond the thrill of the game, focusing 

on the long-term well-being of our planet, our community, and future generations. 

Here are our key messages on sustainability: 

1. Greening the Game: 

We are actively reducing our carbon footprint through energy-efficient 

technologies and renewable energy sources. From LED floodlighting to future 

planning for solar panels, we’re dedicated to minimising our impact on the 

environment. 

2. Waste Reduction: 

We’re tackling waste head-on by implementing recycling programs, reducing 

single-use plastics, and encouraging fans to join us on our journey. Together, 

we aim to create a cleaner, greener stadium experience. 

3. Food Waste: 

We have reduced our food waste and all our products are UK sourced. 

Ultimately, locally sourced food products policy reflects a commitment to 

fostering local economies, reducing environmental impact, and providing 

consumers with fresh and high-quality food options. It can also be tailored 

to the specific goals and circumstances of the organisation or community 

implementing it. 

4. Biodiversity and Green Spaces: 

Our stadium isn’t just a venue; it’s a hub for nature. We’re nurturing green 

spaces around the stadium, creating habitats for local wildlife, and enhancing 

the overall quality of life in our neighbourhood. 

5. Inclusivity and Accessibility: 

We’re ensuring everyone can enjoy the excitement of our games by prioritising 

accessibility and inclusivity in our stadium design. From accessible seating to 

quiet break out spaces, we’re fostering an inclusive fan experience. 

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 

6. Future-Proofing Sport 

Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s the future of sports and entertainment. 

By adopting eco-friendly practices, we’re safeguarding the longevity of our 

stadium and the sports we all love. 

7. Inspiring Change: 

Our Stadium is more than a venue; it’s a platform for positive change. We’re 

committed to inspiring fans, partners, and the sports industry to embrace 

sustainability and make a lasting impact. 

Join us on this exciting journey towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can 

make every game a win for both our teams and the planet. Newcastle Rugby Limited: 

Where Passion Meets Sustainability.

QUIZ 

Test your knowledge on all 

things rugby with our ten-question 

teaser. Answers are upside 

down at the bottom of the page. 

Q1 Who did Saracens play against in last 

season’s Gallagher Premiership final? 

Q6 Which team finished third at this 

year’s Rugby World Cup? 

Q2 Which Newcastle Falcons player is 

pictured here? 

Q7 Which former Newcastle Falcons and 

Saracens player is pictured here? 

Q3 True or false, Saracens coach Joe 

Shaw is a former coach of South Shields 

Westoe RFC? 

Q8 Who was last month named World 

Rugby Player of the Year for 2023? 

Q4 How many points do you get for a 

drop-goal in rugby league? 

Q5 Which Newcastle Falcons player’s 

name is an anagram of ‘double ordeal’? 

Q9 Which URC team plays its home 

games in Pretoria? 

Q10 Which country won the 2023 World 

Rugby Sevens Series? 

QUIZ 

74 

ANSWERS: 1 Sale Sharks, 2 Hugh O’Sullivan, 3 True, 4 One, 5 Eduardo Bello, 6 England, 7 Noah Cato, 8 Ardie Savea, 9 The 

Bulls, 10 New Zealand.

Photo from The Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2023 

TACKLE 

YOUR TALENT 

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Let Gallagher help you. 


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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

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