Director of Rugby/ Head Coach: Dean Richards and Peter Russell
Captain: Will Welch
Stadium: Kingston Park (Capacity: 10,200)
Last Season: 11th
Prediction: 11th
Newcastle survived comfortably last season due to London Irish imploding throughout the season.
Newcastle have some impressive individuals such as winger Sinoti Sinoti. They have a squad that has achieved and is capable of achieving success especially at the hostile Kingston Park.
Sinoti Sinoti dives over for a try.
One of Newcastle’s biggest assets is their home ground, the weather conditions and long trip to the north east corner of England in itself is sapping, couple that with Newcastle playing on an artificial pitch makes Kingston Park a notorious place to visit.
Newcastle also have a dangerous back three that will be lethal on the counter, pace aplenty among the backs that thrive on the artificial surface up at Newcastle.
THREE TO WATCH
Vereniki Goneva
Position: Wing Nationality: Fijian Age: 32 Height: 1.78m Weight: 102kg
Your typical Fijian, powerful and fast in equal measure. The former Leicester wing was one of the stars at Welford Road and at first the move seems strange. It is a coup for Dean Richards though and he should be able to get the best out of Goneva.
He scores tries naturally by either powering through the defenders or burning them for pace on the outside.
Sinoti Sinoti
Position: Wing Nationality: Samoan Age: 30 Height: 1.75m Weight: 100kg
Another Pacific Islander in the Newcastle backs, electric feet and devastating pace are two weapons the opposition have to deal with.
Undoubtedly individually sublime if he can link up with his team he can be used to huge effect due to his natural talent.
Will Welch
Position: Flanker Nationality: English Age: 26 Height: 1.93m Weight: 110kg
Welch is a natural leader and has been at Newcastle Falcons for a while now, he is an asset at the lineout and breakdown.
Captain, Will Welch.
He is a big ball carrier and us happy to take the ball on to get Newcastle moving forwards working to break the gainline.
TRANSFERS
IN (14)
Joshua Chisanga (Kenya Sevens, KEN)
Nick Civetta (RC Medecei, ITA)
Kyle Cooper (Natal Sharks, SAF)
Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Hawks, SCO)
Sam Egerton (England Sevens, ENG)
Opeti Fonua (Leicester Tigers, ENG)
Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers, ENG)
Joel Hodgson (Yorkshire Carnegie, ENG)
Tyrone Holmes (Glasgow Warriors, SCO)
Sam Lockwood (Jersey Reds, ENG)
Evan Olmstead (London Scottish, ENG)
Harrison Orr (Ealing Trailfinders, ENG)
Ben Sowrey (Worcester Warriors, ENG)
David Tameilau (San Francisco Rush, USA)
OUT (17)
Jamie Booth (Manawatu, NZL)
Todd Clever (Released, REL)
Michael Cusack (Yorkshire Carnegie, ENG)
Joshua Furno (Zebre, ITA)
Eric Fry (Sacaramento Express, USA)
Andy Goode (Retired, RET)
Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath, JAP)
Rob Hawkins (Retired, RET)
Scott MacLeod (Retired, RET)
Richard Mayhew (Yorkshire Carnegie, ENG)
George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers, ENG)
Kane Thompson (Manawatu, NZL)
Gonzalo Tiesi (Retired, RET)
Ruki Tipuna (Bay of Plenty, NZL)
Alesana Tuilagi (Released, REL)
Anitelea Tuilagi (Released, REL)
Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre, ITA)
The addition of Goenva is a real coup for Falcons, Holmes could also be an important player for Newcastle.
Goneva following his summer move to Newcastle.
McGuigan is a loss and Andy Goode will be hugely missed he was key last season.
My Newcastle Falcons 23
15 Alex Tait 14 Vereniki Goneva 13 Dominic Waldouck 12 Juan Pablo Socino 11 Sinoti Sinoti 10 Mike Delany 9 Sonatane Takulua
1 Rob Vickers 2 George McGuigan 3 Scott Wilson 4 Andrew Davidson 5 Mouritz Botha 6 Nili Latu 7 Will Welch (Captain) 8 Opeti Fonua
A struggle this season for the Falcons but survival is likely.
