After plenty of speculation, it was finally announced on Tuesday that Newcastle Falcons would become Newcastle Red Bulls following a huge takeover by the sports drink company.
This transaction could prove transformative for rugby union in the north-east of England, with the introduction of world-class facilities, coaches and academy pathways.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond spoke to the press shortly after the announcement, addressing the promising future of the club.
Bath Galacticos
Asked about his previous comments, calling Bath the Galacticos of rugby due to their own influx of funds, Diamond responded: “Well, I think Bath has proven it, haven’t they? My description of them was absolutely accurate.
“They finished bottom and then not far off the bottom three or four years ago. Then they brought in management, and they brought in behind-the-scenes infrastructure. They were well coached, and they became the bridesmaid, then they became the bride.
“Last season, they won it [the Premiership]. So I was right in my description of them. It will take some time for us to do that.
“We come from a background in Newcastle where finances were tight, where one can say at Bath, ‘That is never the case’.
“So for Newcastle, we will plan accordingly over the next two or three years with caution, but also we want to be able to excite the Newcastle crowd when they come to see us.”
Huge for the north-east
It’s not just an important takeover for those on the field in the north of England, it’s also important for those in the surrounding areas who have a desire to be a part of the club in some capacity, whether that’s working behind the scenes or simply wishing to support a thriving local club.
There is a huge catchment area for Newcastle Red Bulls to bring young players into the club, and this is an area that the new owners will be looking to invest in.
“That’s part of the reason Red Bull have got involved,” said Diamond. “They have seen the opportunity for that and how we deliver the messages through the community, through local rugby clubs, is really important.
“There is nobody better to do that than an organisation that bought us with boots on the ground. It’s really important that we get more boots on the ground, coaching in schools, coaching in colleges, universities, the academy structure, working with the constitutional bodies, ie the counties. It’s going to be a huge positive.
“It’s not going to be a sleeping giant anymore. It’s been awoken and and I will assist in the transformation and the transition of that, and then there will be other people coming in to assist and to work with us who have a higher skill set.”
An exciting time for rugby, and a promising time for the north-east.