THIS TOON IS BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH OF US
Chief Richards has Falcons flying high in football-mad Newcastle
FOURTH in the table, pushing for a title, and about to entertain a packed St James’ Park.
There’s an inspirational boss in charge, who’s turned the club from a relegation, “doldrums” existence in the top flight, to contenders.
But we’re not talking about Newcastle United.
High-flying Newcastle Falcons look very much like their illustrious football neighbours want to in a year or two.
With Dean Richards at the helm, and a slick, mobile, well-drilled game, Tyneside has a rugby union side leading the way in terms of success.
Today, they will play the self-styled Big One, against Northampton, decamping to the football stadium.
A record 27,000 tickets have been sold, a club record. Top-level rugby is back on the map in the North East.
Richards said: “This stadium will knock their socks off. It will mean so much to the boys. The issue we will have is making it not so special that they are overawed. “There is a massive pride in the city within the group. There is a huge local culture within the group.
“Lots of our guys have been brought up in the area. The people you bring in have to understand the region, who they represent, embrace it, or they go.
“It will be fantastic to play at St James’. I have been to the Magic Weekend (rugby league) there, and to the Rugby World Cup. What a stadium.”
Richards was chatting in the Falcons’ club house, with a picture of Rob Andrew leading them to the league title in 1998 – their first and last.
Those were the days of Tony Underwood, Inga Tuigamala, Doddie Weir, and a young Jonny Wilkinson.
Recent years have been leaner. There was a relegation in 2012, followed by promotion and a series of scraps at the bottom. In fact, just like the football club, who have proved “excellent hosts”.
There are strong parallels with what Rafa Benitez (left, bottom) wants to do, trailblazed by the Falcons.
Head of Rugby Richards (left, top) said: “I have not come across Rafa yet. I hope to. We have trained down there. From what I understand he has a very similar outlook on life to me.
“He shows respect to players, likewise gets respect from the players, and expects people to push on.
“Historically, our club had been through the doldrums for 10 or 15 years. It has been meandering in 10th, 11th, 12th, and we have climbed out of that now.
“The basketball team have been successful too, (coach) Fab Flournoy has won trophies here...
“When you have a football team, who are relegated and still get 50,000 every week, you have to understand it is a soccer-mad city. But it is not just football-mad, it is sports-mad.
“You soon learn if you are successful in a particular sport, they will follow you, support you, have an interest.
“You will start to sell out, which we are doing now.”
Easing the Falcons back to the top has taken five seasons under Richards, and his coaching team.
He explained: “It is difficult once you are relegated (2012) and come back up. The side who comes up invariably finishes bottom two or three the next year. A lot comes down to the ability to recruit and the investment, and getting people to the club.
“We don’t have the money that the Saracens, Leicesters and Baths have. So, everything is built around the culture. We want the players to play to the best of their ability. “Some of the clubs don’t have that ambition for the players. They have the ambition for the team, but not for the players.
“We need the players to buy in to that – to be out there bettering themselves day after day.”
The season finale will be gripping. A top-four place wins a play-off for the title and Richards added: “Every game is a cup final. There is so much at stake. We are in with a shout in three competitions.
“Our progress may not have been obvious to other people. But there has been an improvement.”