Steve Diamond insists his Falcons will not finish bottom of the Premiership this season but with last season’s also-rans Gloucester recording a shock win against Bristol Bears on Friday night – Christian Wade grabbing a hat-trick to secure a dramatic 44-41 win at Ashton Gate – Newcastle are bottom of the table on zero points having conceded seven tries, and scored just three.
They welcome Leicester to Kingston Park on Saturday followed by a trip to Sale but Diamond remains confident that they will avoid a relegation play-off against the Championship winners.
“One thing is for sure – we won’t finish bottom of the league,” he said. “At the moment we feel we can get to the 60th minute in any game and be competitive but then it’s about our bench and we know we haven’t got the strength in depth of other teams.”
Diamond boosted his coaching team this week with former England scrum-half Lee Dickson. The ex-Newcastle and Northampton player, capped 18 times by England, will combine being a skills coach for the Falcons with his role as master in charge of rugby at Barnard Castle School.
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Denne historien er fra September 29, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
