Newcastle Red Bulls are set for a summer of change, as they announced last month that Dan McFarland will become their head coach for next season. McFarland comes in from Japanese title contenders Kobelco Steelers. Calum MacRae will also return to the club as defence coach from Italian side Benetton. So could we be in for fireworks at Kingston Park next season?
Coaching staff
Current head coach Stephen Jones (attack coach), Micky Ward (scrum coach) and Lee Dickson (skills and transition coach) will all remain in position, while Mark Laycock takes up the role of coaching co-ordinator and transition coach. All three of the senior coaches boasts head coach or international level experience, while Ward, Laycock and Dickson will ensure continuity and a strong affinity with the local area.
New players
There will be plenty of new players coming in as well. Confirmed arrivals include No.8 Hoskins Sotutu, scrum-half Raffi Quirke, winger Fehi Fineanganofo, prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, hooker George Turner and lock Franco Molina. It was also announced earlier this week that Prop Tom West will sign from Northampton Saints for next season.
Scotland and Lions center Chris Jones was announced yesterday as a returning player, after playing with Bath this season. Harris played over 100 times for Newcastle in his first spell and is happy to be back. He said “It’s a real full-circle moment to be heading back to Kingston Park. I am looking forward to returning to where it all started, helping to galvanise this new group of exciting players as we build for the future.”
It’s not just new or returning players. Current players Oli Spencer, Cameron Hutchison and Adam Scott have all signed one year extensions recently. Winger Harrison Obatoyinbo has also signed a new one-year deal.
Any improvement?
The fact that Newcastle Red Bulls are currently sit bottom of the Gallagher PREM table, so improvement can take many forms. However, with the signings they have made already, plus the new head coach Dan McFarland, I think that Newcastle will be a lot better, and will push for the playoffs. That may seem a bit of a stretch from their current position. However, there’s a lot of talent in this squad, and with that coaching team should bring the best of them.
