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Falcons swoop for Sharks flanker Cameron Neild
Newcastle Falcons have swiftly replaced outgoing flanker Guy Pepper with Sale Sharks’ Cameron Neild.
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Just hours after Newcastle announced Pepper’s move to Bath at the end of the season, the Gallagher Premiership strugglers have revealed that Neild will take his place in the back row on a two-year deal.
The 29-year-old’s move to Kingston Park will see him team up with Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond again having worked with him at Edinburgh, Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks.
The former England U20 flanker joined Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors in 2023, before securing a short-term move for his second stint at Sale in February. But he will be relocating again at the end of the season.
After signing, Neild said: “I’ve played against Newcastle a number of times, but one that always sticks in my mind was back in 2016 on the final day of the season when I went up to Kingston Park with Sale Sharks.
“We needed to win to get into the top six and qualify for the Champions Cup, which we narrowly did, but Nili Latu scored a hat-trick for Newcastle and they really took it to us upfront.
“It was one of those days where you think ‘wow, that was a proper game’, and I always associate Newcastle with that kind of bruising performance where they’re really dogged and niggly.
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“It was a fond memory for me because Sale got the result and qualified for the Champions Cup, but I’ve always had a respect for the confrontational side of the game that Newcastle have. I’m sure with Dimes in charge they’ll be playing on that in a pretty big way, and I’m looking forward to getting involved up there.”
Diamond added: “Cam is a very good Premiership operator who has played over a century of games in the competition.
“I’ve had him at quite a few clubs now so he is obviously a player I rate very highly, and he’s been unfortunate with some of the players he’s been behind during that time.
“At Sale he had the Curry brothers and at Edinburgh and Glasgow he was vying with established internationals, but he’s always given a great account of himself whenever he’s been called upon.
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“He brings a wealth of experience and he fits the mould of the players we’re trying to bring in at the moment. He has that hard edge about him, he’s not past his sell-by date and he’s got that real work ethic which is a great fit as we look to move this Newcastle Falcons squad forward.”
Comments on RugbyPass
And they came from behind to win two big games before the final. No one can say what would have happened. Had the boks gone behind the game plan changes and the result may changes. Ifs and ands are irrelevant. The boks won. Neutral critics enjoyed the games they played. Its not a popularity contest. Get over it and move on.
82 Go to commentsI'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
12 Go to commentsMore bloody click bait. Dan Carter has said absolutely nothing. As he should do. Poor journalism again from a site that should know better
9 Go to commentsOh god please help these loosers get over it!!!! You lost. Doesn't matter how many times you dummies are gonna analyse the game, you still lost and we are still Rygby World Champions….get over it, you lost.
82 Go to commentsThe next Willie le Roux. SA are made not to use him.
2 Go to commentsDan has always been as controversial as tea with milk so we were never going to get any definitive answer. So DMac for the win.
9 Go to commentsGoodness. When are the All Blacks and New Zealand commentators going to stop complaining about how they could have won and just try to win next time 😂. In South Africa if you lose you get up and try again. Get over it.
82 Go to commentsHonestly, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. RSA has a ton of experienced talent in its leadership group. I am more interested in who is the new 8 man/8 men and the younger props. The captain may change but the system does not
1 Go to comments“See you in the final” can mean whatever you want it to mean. To me it means that 12 Irish rugby players are a bunch of poeses. See y’all in Pretoria.
131 Go to commentsBen, you are one of the most arrogant and self opionated rugby critics I have ever come across (next to Keohane). I hoped that after SA beating the best ranked teams in the world on their way to the WC (something not done before) that you might have the grace to admit that this is a special team that deserved the accolades coming their way. You have no humility and as has been been already pointed out, merely a troll to attract audience numbers. Count me out in the future.
82 Go to comments‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to commentsFor all those disputing the veracity of Etzebeth’s very public recollections of the Irish players’ comments, I have one question: should we be holding our collective breath in anticipation of a barrage of strenuous denials from the Irish squad? Then again, perhaps not…
131 Go to comments> If the game of rugby is to grow globally, then the rugby Sth Africa play needs to be exterminated. Their performances at World Cup ‘19 & ‘23 were the antithesis to what the game should be. If the World Cup final is the grand spectacle of the game, please no more having to endure the drudgery and insipid ‘style ‘ of play harking back to pre WWII days, where the soulless rugby of the Bok reflected the mindset of a nation. > Gotta agree with Ben Smith, “ the Springboks took the trophy by default, with what might be the most unimpressive escape of all time “.
82 Go to commentsI think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
225 Go to commentsThis is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
82 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
82 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
82 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
131 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
24 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
82 Go to comments