We want to play that Toon again

NEWCASTLE NORTHAMPTON

NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards wants to prove the North-east can become England rugby’s second home by taking his high-flying Falcons back to St James’ Park, where 30,174 watched Saturday’s win over Northampton.

With RFU chief executive Steve Brown revealing at least one England international a season – most likely an autumn test – will be taken away from Twickenham, the success of the Falcons’ first match at the home of Newcastle United makes the city a viable alternative to Manchester.

St James’ Park was a Rugby World Cup venue in 2015 and is used by rugby league for their ‘Big Day Out’, so this game was just the latest to tap into the locals’ strong appetite for sport.

Richards, left, cannot wait for another trip and said: “It is a fantastic stadium and we were itching to play here. The atmosphere was brilliant – one of the best I have experienced for a long time. Hopefully we are going to do this again.

“There is more to Newcastle than football, it is a sports-mad city and region, and the crowd showed the level of interest and support.

“We are hitting our targets as a club and everyone involved with the club is absolutely delighted. I have always said there is this interest in the region and that it will grow. It has grown and the 30,000 crowd shows that.”

Toby Flood kicked 20 points against Northampton to keep the Falcons in the top four and said: “The view is nice from near the top, but this is where good teams have to manage the end of the year.

“We’re in with a shot, we have a chance of the semi-finals and the boys are enjoying the ride.”