What a full-strength Newcastle Red Bulls XV could look like next season

Newcastle Red Bulls’ recruitment drive is in full flow ahead of next season, and it looks like there is no slowing down.

As groundbreaking as Red Bull’s takeover of Newcastle is, any realist knows that it will take time for the squad to be up there competing with the very best teams in England, let alone Europe.

Steve Diamond’s squad lost some huge names over the summer, and while work is underway to plug those gaps, the cohort next season may not be the Galacticos many may be hoping for.

With that said, there have been some signings already that would not have happened without Red Bull, and the club are linked with players that would have simply been unfathomable last season. So here is what the team could look like next season:

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Gallagher Premiership

Newcastle

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Full-time

Saracens

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15. Elliott Obatoyinbo
A Newcastle servant during some tough recent years, Obatoyinbo will know that his position will be under threat in the coming years, which can force a player to raise their game. With the exit of Ben Redshaw, the No.15 jersey is his.

14. Alex Hearle
A return of six tries in 24 games in his debut Newcastle season was not bad from former Gloucester wing Hearle, and that strike rate will surely improve with better players inside him.

13. Max Clark
Came to the rescue midway through last season during an injury crisis, Clark was rewarded with a new deal at the end of the campaign, and will now hope to kick on with what appears to be an ever-improving squad.

12. Sammy Arnold
Former Ireland centre Arnold missed much of his first Newcastle season due to a knee injury in December, so he and Diamond will be hoping for an injury-free campaign.

11. Louis Rees-Zammit
Diamond has already distanced the club from Rees-Zammit, who has announced his return to rugby after 18 months in American football, but coaches have been known to downplay transfers before they come to pass.

10. Ethan Grayson
Son of England World Cup winner, Paul Grayson, Ethan has already enjoyed a brief stint at Newcastle, but is returning from San Diego Legion for next season. The squad may not be burgeoning for the upcoming season, so having such a versatile backline player could be handy.

9. Finlay Christie
All Blacks scrum-half Christie has been strongly linked with the Red Bulls, but will have to compete with
Simón Benítez Cruz for a starting berth. Adding an All Black to a squad is usually a recipe for success.

1. Adam Brocklebank
A dependable option in the No.1 jersey last season for Diamond, the 29-year-old could hold onto the jersey heading into the new season.

2. George McGuigan
Filling the void left by Jamie Blamire, McGuigan has been brought in for his third Newcastle stint.

3. Eduardo Bello
Argentina tighthead Bello missed the entirety of last season due to an ACL injury during the 2024 Rugby Championship. That’s a huge loss for a bare-bones squad, but his return will almost be like a new signing in what will be his third season at Kingston Park.

4. Freddie Clarke
A versatile and experienced addition to the Newcastle squad this summer, former England squad member Clarke is bound to make a huge impact in the north east, bringing size and dynamism.

5. Jamie Hodgson
Another new face in the engine room, Scotland international Hodgson’s signing is a clear sign that Newcastle are looking for solidity and strength in the tight as their first building block.

6. Tom Gordon
Heading into his second season with Newcastle, former Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors flanker was targeted by Diamond, and the Kiwi delivered in his first season.

7. Tom Christie
The Red Bull’s latest signing, Christie, promises to form an all-action, high-octane flanker partnership with his compatriot Gordon, with plenty of grit to go with it.

8. Amanaki Mafi
The kind of ball-carrying presence to complement two terriers in Gordon and Christie, Japan No.8 Mafi will arrive this summer to round off a back-row that could be the pillar of some Newcastle victories next season.