Newcastle Falcons - 2019 to 2020 Championship - Closed

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Dave Walder
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: Nick Easter
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock

Current Squad:
Forwards
Props:
LH - Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank, Trevor Davison,
Conrad Cade (Senior Academy), Phil Brantingham (Senior Academy)
TH - Rodney Ah You, Logo Mulipola, Mark Tampin, Mike Daniels,
Oscar Caudle  TH(Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Hookers: Kyle Cooper, George McGuigan, Jamie Blamire, Charlie Maddison

Second Rows: Sean Robinson, Darren Barry, Toby Salmon, Greg Peterson,
Will Montgomery (Senior Academy), Freddie Lockwood (Senior Academy), Bailey Ransom (Senior Academy)

Back Row:
6&7's: Mark Wilson, Will Welch, Gary Graham, Jon Hardie,
Guy Graham (Senior Academy), Rob Farrar (Senior Academy), Josh Basham (Senior Academy), Harry Hill (Senior Academy),
8: Philip van der Walt, Nemani Negusa, Calum Chick,
Tom Marshall (Senior Academy), Charlie Richards (Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Backs
SH's: Micky Young, Sam Stuart
Callum Pascoe (Senior Academy & Tynedale), Cameron Nordi Kelemeti (Senior Academy), James Elliott (Senior Academy)

Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Toby Flood, Brett Connon, Tim Swiel, Joel Matavesi
Will Haydon Wood (Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Centres: Matias Orlandi, Gareth Owen, Ben Stevenson, George Wacokecoke,
Charlie Wilson (Senior Academy - At Durham UNi)), Chidera Obonna (Senior Academy)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti , Adam Radwan, Cooper Vuna
Morgan Passman (Senior Academy),

FB's: Alex Tait, Tom Arscott,

Players unconfirmed:
Seb De Chaves - Only has a one year deal
Jon Welsh - Injuries mean he hasnt played for nearly 2 years.
Connor Collett - has he signed permanently for Doncaster

Well a good start, DTH has been injured playing for Canada and looks like knee ligaments. Awaiting confirmation of his time out.

Josh Chisanga is released.

On the good news, apparently young LH prop Trevor Davison (brought across from Blaydon) is freakishly strong and a total workhorse. Maybe out LH's will be a strength this season. That French LH Mavinga looks a beast! Hopefully Lockwood can show up well...

New page!

LH stocks look much stronger which wasn't too hard after last season with pretty much just Vickers.

Heard DTH is looking at a month or two which is a real shame as I was really looking forward to seeing him. Wing stocks are strong though, starting to get excited already!

Whey aye...a new page for a new season!

Yeah if Lockwood comes good as well (we saw glimpses at the start of last season)...then LH could be a very good position for us.

Just need to make sure the two Wilson boys get a great pre season and stay fit for the TH spots. Jon Welsh did a load of work last year...too much really.

Another million dollar question....Kibirige? Or should we just give up on that one now...

I don't see why GF, Kibirige is still a pup really, needs some game time this season though.

Hopefully both Wilson's will be much better after a full pre-season, I still have hope Dave can regain some form.

Its Scott who I have high hope for. If he can get fit and injury free he is a monster. But that's becoming a big if!

I think gametime is crucial for Kibirige this season if he is to make it. He must be about 23/24 now isn't he?

GeordieFalcon wrote:I think gametime is crucial for Kibirige this season if he is to make it. He must be about 23/24 now isn't he?

23 in October. Older than I thought - I guess the years fly by at my age

Yeah he's not old in the grand scheme of things...and that injury set him back quite a bit. But now is the time he absolutely has to be playing top level rugby! And regularly.

Wuss at home first off, not a bad start.

Ah are the fixtures out?

They came out today I think GF.

https://www.606v2.com/t66017-jeff-fixture-list-for-2017-2018-is-out Here you go GF

Cheers mate,

I see Aly Hogg has signed up for another season. Whilst also head coach of Blaydon.

Aly was outstanding last season so its good he is staying on. Managed well he still is awesome...

Mark Wilson back in training and he's hugely impressed with the new signings...specifically about them being very vocal about standards etc. Can only be a good thing and rub off on the youngsters.

On a side note, he said young flanker Simon Uzokwe (who starred for Darlington and whos built like a tank) is showing up very well in training.

Well Delayney is off back to New Zealand. How on earth did he ever win a Cap for the AB's!

Good luck to him and great fir the club to get him off the bill.

Yup, that's not one I'll be missing!

Team for the Singha 7's this weekend

1 Glen Young (22, Falcons Lock)
2 Max Davies (19, (Falcons Academy Lock)
3 Harrison Orr (24, Falcons back Row)
4 Gary Graham (24, Falcons Back Row)
5 Simon Uzokwe (22, Falcons Academy back row)
6 Cameron Cowell (Captain) (21, Falcons Academy Wing/ FB, England 7's player also)
7 Adam Radwan (19, Falcons Academy Wing)
8 Ben Stevenson (19, Falcons Academy Centre)
9 Charlie Wilson (18, Falcons Academy Centre)
10 Brett Connon (20, Falcons Academy FH, FB)
11 George Wacokecoke (21, Northumbria Uni Student)
12 Will Muir (21, Northumbria Uni Student)

Very young squad...and nice to see mostly Falcons squad player and academy lads!

Mo Botha has retired due to injury. It wont have much impact on the squad as he would barely have played, as has hardly played for us in his time here. Maybe his experience will have helped some of the younger lads in training.

But he has been a good servant to English rugby, his better years certainly with another club.

The two squads for tomorrows games:

Newcastle Falcons v Doncaster Knights (2pm)

15 Cameron Cowell
14 Adam Radwan
13 Chris Harris
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Joel Hodgson
9 Sam Stuart

1 Rob Vickers
2 Kyle Cooper
3 Jack Payne
4 Will Witty
5 Glen Young
6 Harrison Orr
7 Nili Latu (captain)
8 Callum Chick

Newcastle Falcons v Nottingham (4.30pm)

15 Brett Connon
14 Belisario Agulla
13 Maxime Mermoz
12 Juan Pablo Socino
11 Ben Stevenson
10 Craig Willis
9 Ruaridh Dawson

1 Sami Mavinga
2 Santiago Socino
3 Trevor Davison
4 Calum Green
5 Evan Olmstead
6 Ally Hogg (captain)
7 Simon Uzokwe
8 Ryan Burrows

Replacements (for both games)

16 Scott Lawson
17 Jamie Blamire
18 Adam Brocklebank
19 Nick Civetta
20 Mark Wilson
21 James Elliott
22 Toby Flood
23 Simon Hammersley
[BLANK] Charlie Wilson
[BLANK] Ben Sowrey
[BLANK] Diogo Ferreira
[BLANK] Josh Williams
[BLANK] Max Davies

Interesting line-ups, possible starting midfield against Nott?

Well Sgt, some decent individual performances and some not so (Joel hodgson poor in my eyes) but not really a day to judge performances.

A few players that I'll be watching closely over the next few weekends.  

Flood looks another level all together.  And him and socino look like they've bonded already. Socino played like he's just continued from last season....quality and physical.

Radwan and Ben stevenson the two young wingers look genuine prospects....and a couple of the the young props brocklebank and Benjamin look like ones to watch.

Matavesi looked fat and unfit, but had heavy strapping on his thigh and went off limping.

Really rate Flood mate, fantastic signing. Got to be the 3rd best FH in the AP?

How did the props go, it's the area I'm most concerned about with no Lockwood/Wilson x 2 on show.

The two young Props Brocklebank and Benjamin (the lad from Blaydon) looked like they are worth working with. Rock solid in all areas really which was nice to see.

But the one that stood out was the trialist Jack Payne. He's a tall lad for a prop but scrummed really well and carried hard all afternoon! He also covers lock and back row I believe so might be worth another look over the next few friendlies.

I see the next stage of the ground development is taking place.

North stand will have both a seating and standing area, and a roof. And additional seats on the east stand.

Not sure of the timing of this...but looks like its going ahead.

Very odd timing. The North stand does need something though, it gets bloody cold on there!

Not for us hardened old pros Sgt

Really looking forward to the season now, seems like it has been ages! Reastically need to be looking up rather than at relegation this season. Not sure that European success is realistic, but. I want us to look towards Champions Cup qualifcation (although getting hammered every outing won't do much good).

I was interested to see the stadium development plans, will the North standers be happy with seats? I know a lot of people (myself included) prefer to stand during games. How much is the east stand being developed? We ultimately need to get attendances up to over 10,000 reguarly and a better stadium will help this ( will take an average of 7500-8000 for now though!)

I'm a north stander and I prefer to stand. I heard that stand will be a mix of seats and stands...not sure how that will work.

I think we look strong this season...

Teams for the friendlies this weekend...

V Edinburgh @ Melrose
Falcons V Edinburgh @ Melrose tomorrow.
Decent Falcons side named...

1 Rob Vickers
2 Kyle Cooper
3 Jon Welsh
4 Will Witty
5 Glen Young
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch
8 Nili Latu

9 Takulua
10 Flood
11 Sinoti
12 Socino
13 harris
14 Agulla
15 Hammersley

16 Lawson 17 S.Socino 18 Mavinga 19 Green 20 Chick 21 Stuart 22 Hodgson 23 Tait 24 Davidson 25 Hogg 26 Agulla 27 Matavesi

V Doncaster @ Doncaster
15 Cameron Cowell
14 Aedan Moloney
13 Ben Stevenson
12 Charlie Wilson
11 Adam Radwan
10 Craig Willis
9 Ruaridh Dawson

1 Sami Mavinga
2 Santiago Socino
3 Trevor Davison
4 Tevita Cavubati
5 Nick Civetta
6 Harrison Orr
7 Simon Uzokwe
8 Ryan Burrows

Replacements
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Diogo Ferreira
18 Adam Brocklebank
19 Josh Williams
20 Oli Robinson
21 James Elliott
22 Will Muir
23 Jake Rodgers

So neither of the Wilsons at prop have had a run out...and once again Zach Kibirige is in a brace.

Really doesn't look good for any of them...Kibirige is as big a sicknote as Scotty Wilson. He has also lost his crown as the new starlet on the wing...which has been handed over to Adam Radwan.

Also I really like the look of the other youngster Ben Stevenson at 13. He is a tall lad but looks impressive.

Geordie,
If it is any comfort to you, Worcester are also struggling in the prop division. We have quite a long injury list across the board, but particularly with our props. Have been using trialist props in our last two pre-season games. We only have two fit props in our squad.
Good luck for the season, but hopefully not on friday.
I think Flood will be a tremendous signing for you.
TB

Yeah we have had to bring some trialists in. Its a concern. Apparently Scott Wilson has damaged his shoulder now. Its just unreal....

Scrum Half Tane Takulua has signed a new 4 year deal...
Now that's a cracking re-signing....top scrum half.

Hi Lads!

Long time!

Anyone heading up tonight? Fancy us for the win but we'll need to be 10/15 points ahead with 20 minutes to go. Not confident in Joel taking on a fresh Ben Teo'o

Scrum has been a bit of a worry so far, can't go through the season going backwards like that. Some decent play, but could do with less of the aerial ping pong, either hit touch or run the I am a twonk of the highest order back. Worcester have picked a heavy pack to bog us down and bludgeon us into submission and we seem to be playing into their hands a little bit. Need to look for territory and to keep turning them around.

Yeah I was there as usual.

I expected a workmanlike grafting performance and it was duly delivered...though there was a little bit more flair than I expected.

Most of all we were efficient taking points. Now that's great to see!

Excellent result. Seen the highlights but hard to gauge. How did the new boys get on?

Great result for Irish, Quins away woes continue.

We've just beat wasps 67-12 in the A league.

Im frustrated with the current side. 2 wins and the defeat in Phili

but the whole performances have just been Meh! There no attacking explosiveness. Its all very dull, pragmatic (which I can cope with up to a point) defend defend defend and counter on an opposition mistake.

Now against both Sale and Saracens we at no point actually took the game to them. Against Saracens we looked so meak, underpowered and just set in a defensive mode.

Its all just so preplanned and dull...

Exactly how we started last season and the season before GF, it's very odd. It seems it takes us a while to get up and running, maybe Flood will help?

Or we're under instructions to play like this...and only later open up.

i just don't get it.

Socino not playing is having an issue.

The A Team for tonight...

I think that shows the strength in depth we are starting to build after the win on Saturday

Newcastle Falcons Development Team v Sale

15 Cameron Cowell
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Belisario Agulla
12 Charlie Wilson
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Brett Connon
9 Ruaridh Dawson

1 Sami Mavinga
2 Ben Sowrey
3 Jake Ilnicki
4 Tevita Cavubati
5 Evan Olmstead
6 Harrison Orr
7 Gary Graham
8 Ryan Burrows (captain)

Replacements
16 Jamie Blamire
17 Adam Brocklebank
18 Diogo Ferreira
19 Glen Young
20 Nick Civetta
21 Adam Radwan
22 Joel Matavesi
23 Simon Uzokwe

I see the Dorian West rumours are picking up pace .

Interesting....he'd hopefully improve our woeful scrum. But then who is he replacing

I'd be quite surprised with this tbh although I think we have a spot available in the coaching set-up?

One of my mates is a saints season ticket holder, and he has mentioned it to me...saying there seems to be some rumblings. He also said that Saints are chasing a Cardiff coach which makes it seem more substantial.

Would he be forwards or Scrum Coach? Would we lose Micky Ward?

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Dave Walder
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: John Wells
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock

I guess we lost a coach and Ward now does 2 jobs? Our scrum is pretty dire 99% of the time, maybe West can help?

West will take over the scrummaging and mentor Mick Ward and Scott Macleod i think.

Going to the game GF?

Yeah I'll be there Driver. Hopefully we will continue to play the attacking game.

Hello Falcons fans

I'm planning on going to the Bath game on 17th Feb with my girlfriend (we're in Newcastle for the weekend for my birthday).

Can we just buy tickets from the Falcons website? Any tips on which standing/sitting tickets to get? It's our first trip to Kingston Park.

Recommendations on travel to the stadium, pubs etc? We'll be staying in Newcastle centre.

Thanks!