Premiership
Team news: Falcons name side for Doncaster
Nathan Earle starts on the left wing
Friday 2 September 2022
Newcastle Falcons have named their side for Friday’s pre-season friendly at Doncaster Knights, naming an all-English-qualified back line for the 7.45pm kick-off at Castle Park.
Nathan Earle and Adam Radwan form the wing partnership with Iwan Stephens at full-back, Ben Stevenson partnering Pete Lucock in the centres as the Falcons play their second and final pre-season game before their Gallagher Premiership opener at home to Harlequins on Saturday September 10.
Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti starts after scoring one of four Newcastle tries in last Friday’s 42-28 defeat away to Premiership champions Leicester Tigers, with a hand injury ruling out fellow scrum-half Michael Young.
Will Welch captains the team from blind-side flanker, academy product Marcus Tiffen starting at open-side with Carl Fearns at No.8.
Fly-half Tian Schoeman is set for his Falcons debut after being named as part of an 11-man bench, with the South African having arrived from Bath during the summer. Josh Thomas is also included among the replacements after kicking two touchline conversions at Leicester as well as creating a try for Iwan Stephens during an impressive debut.
Lock-forward Josh Peters returns to his former club having joined Newcastle from Doncaster in the off-season, while flanker Gary Graham (knee) and scrum-half Michael Young (broken hand) are added to the club’s injury list
Head coach Dave Walder said ahead of the Castle Park clash: “We’ve tried to get the blend right to give us the best preparation for Harlequins next weekend.
“We’ve gone with a smaller squad compared with last week, partly because we’re getting closer to that Premiership start line and partly due to picking up a couple more injuries.
“It’s always a balance between trying to give game time to as many guys as possible and getting your team prepared for the first league game, but it’s a good side that we’ve gone with. We want a more consistent performance than we showed last Friday at Leicester, and there are a few things we’ve been working on which I’m looking forward to seeing.”
The Falcons boss added: “It’s entirely about us this week rather than focusing too much on the opposition.
“Doncaster had what they will feel was a disappointing result last weekend at home to Wasps, but we haven’t looked too much into that. It’s just about what we can do to be in the best possible shape for next weekend at home to Harlequins.
“Doncaster had a good season in the Championship so we’re expecting a tough test at their place, and we’re all looking forward to it. They’ve got a nice pitch and a good set-up, and with the relative proximity between the two clubs hopefully we’ll take a few supporters down to create a good atmosphere.”
Friday’s game is not being live-streamed but the Falcons will have Twitter updates during play, plus a report and reaction on the club website after the final whistle.
Newcastle Falcons team v Doncaster Knights (Friday, 7.45pm, Castle Park)
15 Iwan Stephens, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ben Stevenson, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Matthew Dalton, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Marcus Tiffen, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Josh Peters, 20 Jamie Blamire, 21 Josh Barton, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Ewan Greenlaw, [BLANK SHIRTS] Tom Marshall, Josh Thomas.
Not available for selection: Adam Brocklebank, Mateo Carreras, Callum Chick, Jeremy Civil, Connor Collett, Matt Deehan, Ben Douglas, Gary Graham, Nathan Greenwood, Louie Johnson, Matias Moroni, Chidera Obonna, Matias Orlando, Tom Penny, Guy Pepper, Vereimi Qorowale, Sean Robinson, Charlie Smith, Sam Stuart, Alex Tait, Philip van der Walt, George Wacokecoke, Michael Young.
Doncaster Knights: 15 Harry Davey, 14 George Simpson, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden, 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Roberts, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 John Kelly, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Sam Hudson, 7 Jared Cardew, 8 Thom Smith.
Replacements: 16 George Edgson, 17 Maurice Nwakor, 18 Mak Wilson, 19 Ehize Ehizode, 20 Sam Daly, 21 Joe Green, 22 Fraser Strachan, 23 Robbie Smith, Karl Garside, Will Yarnell, Will Holling, Jack Spittle, Alec Lloyd-Seed.
Referee: Hamish Smales.
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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