DoR Richards confirms he is negotiating a different Newcastle role

Long-serving Newcastle boss Dean Richards has confirmed he is negotiating an alternative role at Newcastle following reports that he is expected to step down as director of rugby at the end of the season after a decade in the job at the Falcons. 

Weekend media coverage suggested a change was on the horizon when the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season comes to an end in June and the 58-year-old ex-Leicester, Grenoble and Harlequins boss has now admitted he in is talks with Newcastle chairman Semore Kurdi.

“At the moment I’m talking to Semore about it,” said Newcastle boss Richards during his weekly media briefing on Tuesday, a session reported on by The Telegraph. “I have been doing it [the director of rugby position] for 25 years or so and it’s been a long haul, to be honest. At the same time, I’m still keen as mustard and still enjoy the sport and the match days more than anything.

The Honey Badger – Nick Cummins joins Ryan and Max | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 29

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“The role of director of rugby varies from one club to another. I have always done the contract negotiations, so I have never taken any baggage like that on the field. That is one of the reasons I don’t go onto the field is that I do all that side of things. I do employ a number of very good coaches to deliver a format and they deliver it well. I trust them to do that. That is the way I have always worked.

“I have noticed over the last couple of years that there is far more work being put into clubs’ recruitment and they are going out and reaching areas that have been untouched before. Other clubs are looking at things in a slightly different way, bringing in the odd hidden gem from here and there. People are adopting a different route to recruitment,” continued Richards, who is reportedly set for a part-time constancy role with Newcastle.

“The last two years have been a real shake up for everybody. We got to fourth on the smallest budget and every year we have the smallest budget in the Premiership. Everything is above par for us. That’s not the way we look at it, we want to get as high up the ladder as we possibly can.

“I’m happy with the way the academy is functioning, it’s churning out some unbelievable players. I’m delighted with the way the club is from a rugby perspective, and we are in a good place.”