Newcastle Red Bulls will begin their Gallagher Premiership campaign with a challenging away fixture against reigning champions Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens this evening. The match, kicking off at 7:45 p.m., features several players returning to face their former clubs, including Sam Graham and Elliot Millar Mills, both of whom previously played for Northampton. Prop Tom West is also poised to make an appearance against his old team from the bench.
The Red Bulls’ starting lineup includes seven new signings acquired over the summer, as well as five additional newcomers on the bench. Chris Harris, who has rejoined Newcastle from Bath Rugby, is selected at inside centre, while former Ulster winger Werner Kok takes a position on the left wing. Maori All Black Pouri Rakete-Stones will make his Premiership debut at loose-head prop after contributing to the Hurricanes’ recent Super Rugby title win. Millar Mills partners him on the scrum’s right side, marking his first competitive outing against Northampton since the Gallagher Premiership final in June.
In the forwards, former Gloucester player Cam Jordan is named in the second row alongside Newcastle’s Young Player of the Season, Oscar Usher. The back row features ex-Perpignan athlete Max Hicks alongside Sam Graham. Among the replacements, former New Zealand All Black No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu may also make his debut, while Argentina lock Franco Molina returns to the matchday squad following international duty. Joining them on the bench are fellow countryman Simón Benítez Cruz, ex-Sale prop James Harper, and Zack Henry, a former Stade Français fly-half.
The Red Bulls enter the season off the back of an unbeaten pre-season run, which included victories over Glasgow Warriors, Doncaster Knights, Rotherham Titans, and a 36-24 win against Leicester Tigers in the Premiership Rugby Cup opener.
Head coach Dan McFarland, who joined Newcastle after guiding the Kobelco Steelers to a Japanese league title, described the opening fixture as an ideal test for his squad. He highlighted Northampton’s status as reigning champions with a strong cohort of promising young players, noting the quality and intensity Newcastle will face.
Reflecting on the extensive squad changes during the off-season, McFarland acknowledged the team’s process of building cohesion amid significant personnel turnover. He emphasized that while immediate success is not expected, the Red Bulls are driven by ambition and resilience to establish themselves in the competitive Premiership.
“Cohesion and connection in rugby is such a huge and important aspect, and I’ve been really impressed so far by how well everyone has bought into it,” McFarland said. He described Newcastle as combining a solid core of experienced players with new arrivals who have integrated quickly, creating “a powerful combination.”
The coach also underscored the club’s commitment to playing a high-energy, physically demanding style, noting the sense of optimism across the Red Bull network supporting the team. As they embark on their fifth consecutive campaign, Newcastle aims to build on recent momentum and challenge established Premiership powers from the outset.