Newcastle Red Bulls bring Josh Hodge 'home' on three-year deal

Newcastle Red Bulls have tempted back academy graduate Josh Hodge to Kingston Park on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old began his career with the North East club and scored a length-of-the-field try on his first team debut before he left Tyneside for Gallagher PREM rivals Exeter Chiefs in 2020. During his time at Sandy Park the full-back and wing has scored 29 tries in 89 appearances.

In 2019 Hodge was the top points scorer at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship and slotted all 24 of his attempts at goal. Earlier this season he was a try scorer for England A against an All Blacks XV at Bath Rugby‘s Recreation Ground.

Hodge current contract with Exeter was due to run out at the end of this season and, according to last week’s Fissler Confidential, was offered £275,000 a year to come back to the North East.

Josh Hodge, when previewing his return to Newcastle, said: “I’m really looking forward returning to Newcastle Red Bulls.

“There is a lot of unfinished business for me in Newcastle, and with Red Bull coming in it’s exciting times for the club. I can’t wait to see what we can do over the next three seasons.

“I knew that if I got the opportunity to go back to Newcastle, where it all started for me as a professional rugby player, it would be hard to turn it down.

“And for the fans, I cannot wait to be back playing in front of the northern crowd. The north is my home, and the Newcastle supporters are incredible.”

Confirmation of Hodge’s return to Kingston Park comes less than a week on from the news 14-cap former All Black back-row Hoskins Sotutu has committed his future to the North East club.

Sotutu’s arrival at the club was described as a ‘major statement of their intent’ after they saw off fellow Gallagher PREM outfit Saracens for his signature.

The club hope that Hodge’s return can also offer a sign that emerging players can now pursue Test match honours on Tyneside.

This comes after the high profile exits of numerous academy graduates in recent memory, including Guy Pepper, Callum Chick, Jamie Blamire, Adam Radwan and Ben Redshaw.

Neil McIlroy, Newcastle Red Bulls’ sporting general manager, said: “Bringing Josh back to Newcastle is an important move for a number of reasons.

“Firstly, he is a quality English player who will significantly strengthen our squad, and anyone who watches Gallagher PREM rugby will be aware what a huge talent he is.

“At full-back or wing he has pace to burn and a fantastic kicking game, but in addition to that there is a wider statement about us wanting this to be a club where English talent can prosper.

“There’s understandable frustration around the number of players who have developed in Newcastle’s academy, but who have moved away to fulfil their ambitions.

“We are committed to Newcastle Red Bulls being a club where homegrown talent can flourish, so that the Josh Hodges of the future will not feel the need to go elsewhere.”