Newcastle Red Bulls fend of 'plenty of suitors' with new deal

Newcastle Red Bulls centre Alex Hearle has signed a new two-year deal with the club.

The 27-year-old has spent the last season-and-a-half at Kingston Park, arriving from Gloucester in the summer of 2024, and has gone on to make 38 appearances, scoring 10 tries.

Newcastle’s sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said the versatile back “will have had plenty of suitors” with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, and RugbyPass had reported that the Top 14’s Lyon were interested in his services.

The Red Bulls have managed to keep hold of Hearle, however, and continue their good business over the past few weeks, with Northampton Saints’ Sam Graham recently signing for the club.

RugbyPass reported this week that business in the northeast is set to continue.

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“I’m delighted to be staying in the North East,” Hearle said.

“Newcastle is an exciting club with fantastic supporters, and there’s an amazing future here.

“I love the winning mindset of Red Bull and their commitment to developing rugby in our local area.

“Not only that, but they’ll help me grow as an athlete and reach my own personal goals as a professional rugby player, so this is where I truly see the best version of myself developing.

“I want to grow as the club grows, and it’s a fantastic part of the world in which to do it.”

McIlroy added: “Alex has performed at a consistently high level throughout his time with us, and it was always a priority for us to retain his services.

“As well as his try-scoring and line-breaking ability he has increasingly taken on more of a leadership role as one of our senior players, setting a real example with the way he prepares and looks after himself.

“He will have had plenty of suitors considering how well he has gone over the last couple of seasons, but I’m delighted that he will be here longer term.”