Newcastle Red Bulls’ recently acquired scrum half Raffi Quirke will miss the start of the Gallagher Premiership season due to a knee ligament injury. The 25-year-old, who joined Newcastle from Sale Sharks this summer, is sidelined for the club’s opening match against Northampton Saints on Friday. Newcastle’s director of rugby, Dan McFarland, confirmed that Quirke is not yet fit for selection but declined to provide further details on the severity of the injury.

Quirke emerged as a promising talent during his time at Sale Sharks, making his England debut in 2021 against Australia. He notably scored on his second cap, coming off the bench in a narrow 27-26 victory over South Africa during that year’s Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham. Despite these early achievements, his career has been marked by a series of injuries, including recurring hamstring and wrist problems, which have limited his continuity on the field. Although Quirke has been selected for England squads on multiple occasions—most recently as a replacement for Alex Mitchell during the summer—he has not featured in a match for the national team since 2021 and did not take the field in England’s recent win over Argentina.

Quirke is among 24 new players recruited by Newcastle since the club was taken over by Red Bull 13 months ago. Another high-profile signing includes All Black flanker Hoskins Sotutu, who brings international experience with 14 caps. For the upcoming fixture, Newcastle will rely on Simón Benítez-Cruz at scrum half, with the Argentinian returning to the club after completing his international duties.

The club faces a challenge in integrating so many new players while managing injury concerns ahead of what is expected to be a competitive Premiership campaign. Newcastle’s management and supporters will be watching closely to see how quickly Quirke can return to full fitness and contribute to the team’s ambitions.