We need to rebuild in the north

A RADICAL move to bring together Sale Sharks with Newcastle Falcons – and potentially Doncaster or Leeds Tykes – to create a new Premiership team called ‘The North’ has been proposed by Mick Hogan.

- ROSS HEPPENSTALL

The respected administrator has held numerous high-ranking roles during the past three decades, serving as chief executive at Sale, managing director at the Falcons and Event Director for the Newcastle 2019 European Club Rugby Finals.

He oversaw Newcastle taking Premiership home games to St James’ Park in March 2018 and March 2019, which saw them achieve a club-record home attendance.

Although Sale have just finished second, their highest position since claiming top spot in their only title-winning campaign in 2005-06, they have generally struggled to attract consistently big crowds after moving from Edgeley Park to the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford in 2012.

Newcastle have just finished bottom of the Premiership and Leeds Tykes – who dropped out of the top flight in 2011 and have not since returned – were recently relegated from National League 1.

Doncaster are mid-table in the second-tier Championship and Hogan believes drastic moves are needed to breathe much-needed new life into northern rugby.

He told The Rugby Paper: “How can we make club rugby in the north stronger at the elite levels?

“I would go back to an idea that was first proposed way back in 2011 by Leeds Carnegie.

“The proposal was for the three Premiership club at the time – Sale, Newcastle and Leeds – to come together and form ‘The North’.

“The Leeds club approached Sale Sharks first – I was CEO at the club at the time – and then brought Newcastle into the discussions.

“With Brian Kennedy beginning to plan his exit from Sale and Semore Kurdi having only recently taken the reins at Newcastle the discussions were short-lived.