Falcons look Forward to sell-out
Newcastle captain Will Welch is relishing the prospect of a first Kingston Park sell-out for nine years when Leicester arrive on Tyneside.
Today’s Aviva Premiership clash will be watched by Newcastle’s first capacity crowd – 10,100 – since Wasps visited in 2008.
It also says everything about Falcons’ impressive start to the season – they hold a play-off position after winning four of their first six games, and are unbeaten in Europe with victories over Bordeaux-Begles and the Dragons.
“The place is absolutely rocking when there are 7000 people here, so it will be phenomenal to have another couple of thousand in and to have it completely sold out,” said Welch, who makes his 200th Newcastle appearance.
“Our ground isn’t massive, but you get a heck of a noise going when it is anywhere near full, and it really will make a huge difference to the boys.”
Newcastle rugby director Dean Richards faces the club he won four successive Premiership titles with from 1999 to 2002, and Welch added: “We have a lot of links to Leicester throughout our coaching and playing team, so we know what they are about. They are a quality outfit.
“They are physical, they’re abrasive up front and they have a quality back-line that can play the ball, so they have threats across the field. We’ve really got to make sure we are on the money.”