Premiership
Team news: Falcons side to host Benetton
Team news: Falcons side to host Benetton
Cameron Hutchison is among the players returning for Newcastle Falcons on Friday when they host Italian side Benetton in EPCR Challenge Cup action.
The Kingston Park clash is an 8pm kick-off and sees the centre starting in a game which is pivotal to the Falcons’ hopes of progressing through to the last 16 of the competition.
Full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo also comes in for the penultimate group clash, with Josh Barton replacing the injured James Elliott at scrum-half.
Adam Brocklebank starts at loose-head prop in a pack which sees the return of John Hawkins in the second row and Jamie Blamire at hooker, with the Falcons facing Benetton for the first time in 22 years.
Forwards coach Micky Ward was a player when the two clubs last met during the 2000-01 Challenge Cup pool phase – Newcastle beating the Italians 30-19 at home after losing 28-15 in Treviso.
The Falcons reached the semi-finals in that year’s competition, and Ward believes a win on Friday could re-energise his squad for the remainder of the current season.
“To move forward we need a win,” said the club’s appearance record holder, who celebrated his 45th birthday this week.
“I don’t just mean in the Challenge Cup, but to move forward with our season. It would just kick start the whole squad for the back end of the campaign, and maybe moving into a new competition can give us that impetus.
“We’ve got a few bumps and bruises in the squad but we’ve not massively rotated, and it’s a game we’re taking really seriously.”
Asked about last weekend’s home loss to Harlequins, the Wallsend native said: “The little things are having a big effect on us during games at the moment. We were still very much in the contest at half-time but we let them off the hook on a number of occasions by making errors, and then in the second half it was more of the same.
“It was a game which was there for the taking for us, but whether it was execution, guys not doing their roles and things like that – we just ended up putting ourselves under pressure. When you do that against a good side like Harlequins you’re going to lose, and that’s what happened on the night.”
Acknowledging the backing of a season-high home crowd and reiterating the Falcons’ desire to do it for their supporters, Ward said: “It was a great atmosphere and the crowd turned up in numbers to get behind the lads, so it’s disappointing for us as a club to have lost the game.
“We obviously understand we’ve had a poor start to the season from a results points of view, but the morale and togetherness among the squad is really good.
We’ve got a top group of lads and they’re working incredibly hard. Yeah, it’s tough when you’ve lost as many games as we have and you’re coming in on a Monday morning to review another defeat, but the characters we have here and some of the things we’re trying to do to freshen things up – it keeps people energised.
“On the whole I’d say the morale is pretty decent considering where we are in the league and all the rest of it, but obviously we need a win. That’s where the focus is, on putting in place the things we need to achieve that result, and I believe that when one win comes it will be followed by more.
“It’s getting really important now, but that one win on Friday night will be the springboard we need.”
Supporters are reminded that Friday’s game IS included on the season ticket and season parking pass.
Newcastle Falcons team v Benetton Rugby (Friday, 8pm, Kingston Park, live on Viaplay)
15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Josh Barton; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 John Hawkins, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Callum Chick (captain).
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Tom Penny.
Not available for selection: Tim Cardall, Mateo Carreras, Sam Clark, Ben Douglas, James Elliott, Jordan Holgate, Isaac Keller, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Kiran McDonald, Matias Moroni, Jacob Oliver, Richard Palframan, Vereimi Qorowale, Ben Redshaw, Oliver Spencer, Marcus Tiffen, Philip van der Walt.
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Eli Snyman (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Alessandro Izekor, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacob Umaga.
Referee: Tuan Trainini.
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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