Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 8, 2016 8:18:13 GMT
We start the 2016/17 campaign with very high expectations for a fantastic season again off the back of last season. There are two new entrants into the Championship in the guise of London Irish who were relegated from the Premiership by a five- point difference from the Falcons in eleventh and Richmond who won National One by 12 points. After going into administration Richmond reformed as an amateur club in 2000, the club re-joined the leagues as an amateur club at the bottom of the pyramid. In just 16 years they have reached the Championship.
Griff stated in his post-season reflection that a top four finish is achievable next season by playing attractive rugby that would entice spectators through the turnstiles. Hopefully we will start pre-season in the way that we intend to proceed.
Carnegie-bound Ollie Steadman said in the Yorkshire Post on 29th May, “…Stedman, who joined Knights on loan, expects them to continue their stunning journey in 2016-17, having finished a club high second this time...”
On the same day in the Star, Clive Griffiths added, “…He said: “Expectation will be high, that’s the first thing. Everyone will expect us to get in the play-offs again.
We’ve retained the nucleus of the team and I think augmented that with some good signings.
We’re probably going to sign a few more, too, but won’t need to do too much, just tweak a few things here and there...” In the article that announced the signing of London Welsh Hooker Harry Allen.
The Falcons effectively ended last season three places above the Knights as Newcastle finished eleventh in the Premiership and the Knights finished second in the Championship, the division below.
Even though they effectively finished three places above the Knights, the difference in funding is immense. I believe that Premiership clubs receive about six to eight times more than Championship clubs from the RFU. Aviva Premiership funding is apportioned according to shareholding. A team that is relegated to the Championship receives a generous parachute payment enabling them to keep their existing players, staff and recruit wisely to facilitate the yo-yo promotion.
Playing the Falcons may be a good gauge to playing London Irish in our first game of the season as the Falcons finished five points above Irish courtesy of an extra win and a draw.
In Mark Wilson the Falcons have last season’s most prolific tackler. An article mentions, “Congratulations to Newcastle Falcons' Mark Wilson topping the most tackles made this season with 230!” (www.premiershiprugby.com/home.ph [HASH]x9u98d2I70o5KeMt.97)
Falcon’s Flying winger Marcus Watson will play at the Olympics in Rio as part of Team GB’s rugby 7s squad. Watson scored 19 tries in 11 appearances for the Falcons last season. Watson’s season was cut short as he went to train and play with the Olympic squad prior to final selection. Rugby 7s’ Olympic competition takes place from August 9-11.
The Falcons began their pre-season by playing Nottingham at Darlington Mowden Park's Northern Echo Arena on Saturday August 6. Nottingham finished seventh in the Championship last season but were looking at a possible top –four finish until near the end of the season and so were one of the better teams in the Championship. The Falcons scored a half-century over Nottingham, recording a score of 50-12. The Knights will have recorded that convincing victory and will expect a stern test at Kingston Park – not that they didn’t anyway but it would have been nice if the Falcons struggled against Nottingham at the early stage!
During week five of pre-season training Griff said on DKTV that the boys are going to concentrate on rugby techniques rather than strength and conditioning. This is before a few days off before facing the Falcons.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
Griff stated in his post-season reflection that a top four finish is achievable next season by playing attractive rugby that would entice spectators through the turnstiles. Hopefully we will start pre-season in the way that we intend to proceed.
Carnegie-bound Ollie Steadman said in the Yorkshire Post on 29th May, “…Stedman, who joined Knights on loan, expects them to continue their stunning journey in 2016-17, having finished a club high second this time...”
On the same day in the Star, Clive Griffiths added, “…He said: “Expectation will be high, that’s the first thing. Everyone will expect us to get in the play-offs again.
We’ve retained the nucleus of the team and I think augmented that with some good signings.
We’re probably going to sign a few more, too, but won’t need to do too much, just tweak a few things here and there...” In the article that announced the signing of London Welsh Hooker Harry Allen.
The Falcons effectively ended last season three places above the Knights as Newcastle finished eleventh in the Premiership and the Knights finished second in the Championship, the division below.
Even though they effectively finished three places above the Knights, the difference in funding is immense. I believe that Premiership clubs receive about six to eight times more than Championship clubs from the RFU. Aviva Premiership funding is apportioned according to shareholding. A team that is relegated to the Championship receives a generous parachute payment enabling them to keep their existing players, staff and recruit wisely to facilitate the yo-yo promotion.
Playing the Falcons may be a good gauge to playing London Irish in our first game of the season as the Falcons finished five points above Irish courtesy of an extra win and a draw.
In Mark Wilson the Falcons have last season’s most prolific tackler. An article mentions, “Congratulations to Newcastle Falcons' Mark Wilson topping the most tackles made this season with 230!” (www.premiershiprugby.com/home.ph [HASH]x9u98d2I70o5KeMt.97)
Falcon’s Flying winger Marcus Watson will play at the Olympics in Rio as part of Team GB’s rugby 7s squad. Watson scored 19 tries in 11 appearances for the Falcons last season. Watson’s season was cut short as he went to train and play with the Olympic squad prior to final selection. Rugby 7s’ Olympic competition takes place from August 9-11.
The Falcons began their pre-season by playing Nottingham at Darlington Mowden Park's Northern Echo Arena on Saturday August 6. Nottingham finished seventh in the Championship last season but were looking at a possible top –four finish until near the end of the season and so were one of the better teams in the Championship. The Falcons scored a half-century over Nottingham, recording a score of 50-12. The Knights will have recorded that convincing victory and will expect a stern test at Kingston Park – not that they didn’t anyway but it would have been nice if the Falcons struggled against Nottingham at the early stage!
During week five of pre-season training Griff said on DKTV that the boys are going to concentrate on rugby techniques rather than strength and conditioning. This is before a few days off before facing the Falcons.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
