{"id":372647,"date":"2025-12-26T08:51:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T08:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/372647\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T08:51:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T08:51:07","slug":"everyones-buying-into-it-elliott-obatoyinbo-on-life-under-newcastles-new-owners-newcastle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/372647\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Everyone\u2019s buying into it\u2019: Elliott Obatoyinbo on life under Newcastle\u2019s new owners | Newcastle"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Newcastle<\/a> full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo tells a revealing story about his time as an academy player that taught him the difference between rugby in England and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d had a year at Saracens so I was learning the kicking game,\u201d he says, recalling the southern hemisphere winter of 2018 that he spent training with Wellington and playing for Tawa RFC. \u201cIn one of my first games the opposition kicked it and trapped me in our 22. I\u2019ve kicked for touch, a pretty good kick I thought, and suddenly everyone on the team was shouting at me: \u2018Why are you kicking it? Why are you kicking it?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the last time I did that. Their mindset is to have ball in hand and run from anywhere. It was a stark difference to the way Saracens played. [The scrum-half Richard] Wigglesworth would just put it up every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newcastle sit bottom of the Prem, winless after seven matches<\/a>, before Saturday\u2019s trip to Bristol. But still things are looking up. Red Bull\u2019s summer takeover<\/a> has assured long-term investment and access to an extensive sporting infrastructure. The plan is to win trophies.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday a statement signing was announced in the form of the Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, capped 14 times by the All Blacks, who joins next summer. There will be more to come. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting,\u201d Obatoyinbo says of the nascent transformation under well-resourced owners. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to do the best I can and be part of it going forward. There\u2019s already been a lot of change and they look like they\u2019re willing to do anything to get to the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

The head coach, Alan Dickens, revealed two players travelled to Red Bull\u2019s athlete performance centre in Salzburg last week, for injury rehabilitation and to learn more about the operation. Obatoyinbo is seeing positive change. \u201cThere\u2019s more staff: [senior assistant coach] Stephen Jones has been a good addition,\u201d he says. \u201cHe knows exactly what he\u2019s talking about. It\u2019s more professional, higher standards \u2026 there\u2019s been a lot of improvement and everyone\u2019s buying into it. Hopefully we\u2019ll see more rewards soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obatoyinbo gets ready to take to the field before the match against the Lions, which Newcastle won 14-10. Photograph: George Wood\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old, born in Ormskirk to an English mother and Nigerian father, has plenty going on besides rugby. His Wikipedia page describes him as a \u201ckeen artist\u201d but that hardly does justice to the quality of the work<\/a>. He is busy with his latest commission, laid out before him as we talk on Zoom, and aims to hold an exhibition next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long I\u2019m not too tired from training I\u2019ll try to do a bit of art,\u201d Obatoyinbo says. \u201cIf it\u2019s just a blank canvas or piece of paper sometimes I don\u2019t feel up for it. But when I get the ball rolling it\u2019s fun \u2013 I can\u2019t stop. I need to have energy to be creative and put pencil, charcoal, or brush to paper.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u00c0b\u00f9r\u00f2\u2019 \u2013 which means brother in Yoruba. \u2018When I get the ball rolling it\u2019s fun \u2013 I can\u2019t stop,\u2019 Obatoyinbo says of working on his art. Photograph: Elliott Obatoyinbo<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see other people pursuing interests outside rugby. [The Bath flanker] Miles Reid has a clothing brand. Why not? It prepares you for life after. I play a bit of golf when the weather\u2019s all right, but mainly it\u2019s art.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golf is something else Obatoyinbo excels at. He considered turning professional before signing his first contract with Saracens, and still plays off scratch. \u201cI started when I was six,\u201d he says. \u201cI played a lot with my dad: we lived in Egypt on a golf course. I represented West Africa in the Junior Open and made the cut. At the time I was at Harrow [school] so was only training once a week. I really considered it but played more rugby and got offered a contract: it was more of a guarantee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obatoyinbo signed for Newcastle in 2022 and was joined in the summer by his younger brother, Harrison, returning from a spell in France with Toulon and Stade Montois. They lined up together for the first time in last week\u2019s Challenge Cup victory against the Lions<\/a>. \u201cIt was so fun,\u201d Obatoyinbo says. \u201cI\u2019ve never played with him, even at school \u2026 I know how good he is. I\u2019m a bit more experienced and if he doesn\u2019t get something right, I\u2019m the first person to try and make sure he does it right next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the move north, having lived in Shepherd\u2019s Bush while at Saracens, Obatoyinbo says: \u201cI was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It\u2019s a slower life but people here love their sport. We\u2019ve lost quite a few games over the last few years but the fans keep coming, keep showing support. And the area\u2019s nice. I think there\u2019s a bit of a misconception about the north, about Newcastle. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Muhammad\u2019. Photograph: Elliott Obatoyinbo<\/p>\n

He is also relishing a chance to face Bristol\u2019s all-court game at Ashton Gate. \u201cIt\u2019s a different game to prepare for because they\u2019re willing to play from anywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be alert to everything, especially in the back three, with the running and kicking threats they have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long-term, though, Obatoyinbo hopes Red Bull\u2019s ownership<\/a> will offer a chance to repay loyal fans. \u201cSince I arrived we\u2019ve had some bad losses,\u201d he says. \u201cBut the times we do win, just to see the buzz around the stadium \u2013 it\u2019s a feeling you want. The fans are so supportive. I\u2019d like to give them regular wins to repay them.\u201d Bristol won\u2019t be easy, but things are moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n