Pressure is on Falcons to fly high this season
RETURNING fly-half Toby Flood has put the pressure on the new faces at Newcastle Falcons to move the club forward after a muchimproved campaign last time out.
The Falcons were relegated from the Aviva Premiership in 2011-12 but after a single season in the Championship have re-established themselves in English rugby’s elite competition.
After finishing just three points behind Northampton Saints in the race to finish inside the top six, the Falcons head into the new season with much greater expectations than in previous years.
They welcome Flood back to Kingston Park after a nine-year absence, where he was plying his trade first for Leicester Tigers and then in France with Toulouse.
Former Tiger Maxime Mermoz, DTH van der Merwe and Josh Matavesi have also arrived in the North East during the off-season to bolster the ranks at Dean Richards’ disposal.
Flood, alongside the other new arrivals, is hoping to help the Falcons take another step forward in their quest for European Champions Cup rugby when the season starts on September 1. He said: “Where the guys finished last year was a real credit to the work ethic and environment they created. “With that comes a little bit of pressure and the knowledge they have to back it up.” Flood (pictured) was speaking on behalf of Land Rover, who this season will be celebrating 10 years of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup - the national series of grassroots rugby festivals for under-11 and under-12 teams. He added: “Having spent time at Leicester you get used to that sort of pressure to a point but it still follows you around. “The pressure is almost on the new guys to take that on, push it forward and see where we can take this team. “It is part of a progression curve on the up and hopefully we can improve on that this year. “There is an awareness of what Newcastle can do and how they can perform and we will be looking to
I know the product but it has definitely changed, the intensity has gone up and the dynamic of the league has changed Toby Flood
move that on. It is good on a personal note to be back - it was a good three years in Toulouse in terms of the experience and lifestyle and I took a lot away from it but it is great to be back in the Aviva Premiership.
“I know the product but it has definitely changed, the intensity has gone up and the dynamic of the league has changed - it is not two or three teams at the forefront.”
After three years in France, Flood is returning to his roots, having grown up and been to school in the North East before attending Northumbria University.
The 32-year-old admitted a return to a city he knows so well not only made the decision to leave France easier but also had its practical benefits as well.
He said: “I know the area and the people so I have an awareness of how the town works and I know where I am going.”
In celebration of its tenth season partnering with the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, Land Rover will be rewarding a lucky under-11 and under-12 team from each regional rugby festival with an exclusive trip to Twickenham for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on May 26.
The teams will get to meet a Land Rover rugby ambassador and join in a Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup testimonial parade at half-time.
LAND Rover is celebrating its ‘Testimonial Season,’ ten years of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. The national series of grassroots rugby festivals is testament to Land Rover’s continued support of grassroots rugby through its ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal.