Gallagher PREM 2026/27 squads rated: Newcastle Red Bulls

After four consecutive finishes at the bottom of the PREM table, there is cautious optimism on Tyneside that the first full season of the Newcastle Red Bulls revolution can bring about an immediate upturn in fortunes.

A whole new squad of players has been brought in by new head coach Dan McFarland, while, for the first time in ages, Newcastle haven’t really lost any players that they would otherwise have liked to have kept.

However, recruitment has been a little underwhelming in terms of the quality of players brought in and there is a sense that they are maybe keeping their powder dry for a year or two down the line.

It’s impossible to say how well this new group will gel, and how quickly, but the recent Cup win backs up the belief that the only way is up.

Loose-head – Adam Brocklebank, Elvis Kitenge-Fuki* (both sides), Murray McCallum (both sides), Nathan Rickerby*, Pouri Rakete-Stones (both sides), Micky Rewcastle*, Tom West
Unless Pouri Rakete-Stones takes the PREM by storm, there doesn’t appear to be a standout loose-head amongst them. Adam Brocklebank and Murray McCallum – who played as many games at tight-head as he did at loose-head in 2025/26 – have been good servants, and the incoming former Wasps player, Tom West, is a decent addition to the squad. But you wouldn’t expect them to dominate here. 6/10

Hooker – Samson Adejimi, Will Graham*, George McGuigan, Jack Nesbitt*, Zuriel Togiatama, George Turner
George Turner’s arrival would have taken some of the weight off George McGuigan’s shoulders, but the Scotland international ruptured his Achilles in the summer and it’s unlikely he’ll be seen before the Six Nations. While Ollie Fletcher appeared in every league game, McGuigan owned the No.2 jersey. He accounted for all three of Newcastle’s tries by hookers and had twice as much game time in the PREM as Fletcher and Samson Adejimi combined, so Newcastle will be praying nothing untoward happens to him. 6.5/10

Tight-head – James Harper, Elliot Millar Mills, Francesco Moreno, Richard Palframan
A success rate of 91.54% (3rd in the league) suggests Newcastle’s scrum more than held its own last season. While it provided a solid enough platform, it wasn’t an aggressive weapon; the pack’s tally of 12 scrum penalties won was the lowest in the league. However, newly-capped Puma Francesco Moreno is a huge unit and James Harper, whose career hasn’t possibly kicked on as much as he’d have hoped, also has plenty of heft, so the cornerstones are now in place to be a bit more dominant. Elliot Millar Mills also appears to have got his second wind and can do a good job for 40 minutes, and Richard Palframan is under-rated outside of Newcastle, so the Red Bulls shouldn’t be lacking in this area. 8/10

Lock – Finn Baker*, Max Hicks (also back-row), Cam Jordan, Franco Molina, Oscar Usher*, Adam Scott (also back-row)
With last season’s most-used locks, Jamie Hodgson, Freddie Clarke and Fergus Warner-Lee moving on, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly the chemistry between the hookers and new recruits develops. Cam Jordan comes to Newcastle from Gloucester at a good age (26), while Puma Franco Molina has a ton of experience. Of all the senior academy players, Oscar Usher is tipped to make the most impact. They may be crying out for an out-and-out enforcer, though, especially with the new rules around the maul. 6/10

Back-row – George Bolam*, Tom Christie, Allan Ferrie, Sam Graham, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Euan Oakes*, Reuben Parsons*, Hoskins Sotutu, Rusi Tuima (also lock), Charlie Turnbull*
While Hoskins Sotutu is shaping up to be one of the most exciting signings of the close season, Sam Graham’s capture from Northampton could be equally as impactful. Graham has a phenomenal work-rate and would have been a back-row regular at any club outside of the top four. Allan Ferrie has caught the eye in pre-season after signing from Coventry and could be one of those Champ signings that initially fly under the radar but prove to be very astute. Tom Christie will continue to lead by example in a beefed-up area of the pack. 7/10

Scrum-half – Simón Benítez Cruz, Joe Davis*, James Elliott, Raffi Quirke
With his England days seemingly behind him before they had even properly begun, Newcastle should benefit massively from Raffi Quirke being available to them, fitness permitting, for the whole of the campaign. Now an Argentina regular, Simón Benítez Cruz will be looking to back up an excellent first season in the PREM. 7/10

Fly-half – Brett Connon, Jake Dalziel*, Ethan Grayson (also full-back), Zack Henry
All eyes are on Zack Henry to see whether he can do a Billy Searle and become the go-to man rather than the journeyman 10. Henry has gathered plenty of experience in a much-travelled career and did well in the short time he was at Leicester, but does he have the star dust to transform an atatck that mustered just 47 tries last term? Brett Connon is steady enough and wholly committed to the cause, while Ethan Grayson can do a job. But there appears to be much of a muchness about the trio in terms of quality. 6/10

Centre – Sammy Arnold, Oliver Ashton*, Rhys Beeckmans*, Chris Harris, Alex Hearle (also wing), Cam Hutchison, Will Rigg
In terms of gainline 12s, Sammy Arnold doesn’t have too many peers, other than maybe Benhard Janse van Rensburg. Chris Harris and Will Rigg can pack a punch, too, but the former’s best days appear well behind him. Alex Hearle has brought some much-needed guile to the midfield when called in from the wing to play 13, but they could still do with a bit more of a creative edge. 6.5/10

Wing – Obi Ene, Nathan Greenwood*, Harry Hawkins*, Brandon Jackson (also centre), Werner Kok, Harrison Obatoyinbo (also full-back), Oli Spencer (also centre/full-back) Christian Wade, Alfie Warwick*
Christian Wade’s appetite for the try line shows no sign of diminishing as the jack-in-a-box finisher hunts down Chris Ashton’s all-time PREM record. Oli Spencer emerged as a regular starter last season and showed a lot of promise but needs to up his try-scoring return. Uncertainty still hangs over the future of marquee signing Fehi Fineanganofo, with no end in sight yet to the ‘will he, won’t he’ play saga. Otherwise, the incoming wings look like makeweights but we could be proven wrong! 6.5/10

Full-back – Charlie Dinneen* (also fly-half), Benjamín Elizalde (also wing/centre), Josh Hodge, Sam Waugh*
Josh Hodge is a good old-fashioned specialist full-back in the mould of a Mike Brown but with an even bigger boot and a bit more gas. Returning home to his roots, Hodge arrived in April so has had plenty of time to bed back in. It’ll be a while before Red Bulls fans will see Argentinean, Benjamín Elizalde, who tore the ACL in his left knee in May. 6/10

Overall depth rating: 65.5/100 (2025/26: 64.5)

Gallagher PREM ratings table

1. Northampton – 78
2. Bath – 76
3. Exeter – 70
3. Harlequins – 70
5. Newcastle – 65.5

*senior academy

TRANSFERS

Ins: Hoskins Sotutu (Bulls), Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs), Franco Molina (Western Force), Rus Tuima (Exeter Chiefs), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Sam Graham (Northampton Saints), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Fehi Fineanganofo (Hurricanes), Cam Jordan (Gloucester Rugby), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hurricanes), Will Rigg (Exeter Chiefs), Max Hicks (Perpignan), Zack Henry (Stade Francais), George Turner (Harlequins), Brandon Jackson (Saracens), James Harper (Sale Sharks), Obi Ene (Sale Sharks), Allan Ferrie (Coventry), Samson Adejimi (Saracens), Benjamin Elizalde (Bristol Bears), Tom West (Northampton Saints), Chris Harris (Bath Rugby), Werner Kok (Ulster), Zuriel Togiatama (Fijian Drua), Francisco Moreno (Tarucas).

Outs: Callum Hancock (Doncaster Knights), Connor Hancock (Doncaster Knights), Fergus Lee-Warner (Grenoble), John Hawkins (Worcester Warriors), Tim Cardall (released), Max Clark (released), Freddie Clarke (released), Stefan Coetzee (released), Luan de Bruin (released), Sebastian de Chaves (released), Jack Dickens (released), Connor Doherty (released), Bryn Gordon (released), Thomas Gordon (released), Jamie Hodgson (released), Freddie Lockwood (released), Amanaki Mafi (released), Cameron Neild (released), Elliott Obatoyinbo (released), Sam Stuart (released), Eduardo Bello (Ulster), Jamie Clark (Cornish Pirates), Junior Newton (Darlington Mowden Park), Joel Grayson (Blackheath), Boeta Chamberlain (Lions).