By Foot Up (24/03/03)
March 24 2003

The Newcastle Falcons' Academy side are having a successful season and are currently 3rd in the U21s League with a game in hand. The side has obviously benefited from the pre season tour to New Zealand where they played four games. Two games were at U19s and two at U21s age groups. Both sides won one and lost one against top class opposition. This is the first Falcons academy side to win any games in New Zealand. The previous academy sides who have been to New Zealand contained the likes of Jamie Noon, Tom May etc.

2002 New Zealand Tour Results

03 Aug 2002 North Harbour U21s 13 - 11 Falcons U21s
07 Aug 2002 Counties Manukau U19s 28 - 19 Falcons U19s
10 Aug 2002 Northland U21s 3 - 22 Falcons u21s
14 Aug 2002 Waikato U19s 3 - 13 Falcons U19s

This is the first season that the academy U21s have played all the sides in the league and the results so far this season have been encouraging. They try to play attractive 15 man rugby and utilise the whole team. This success has lead to several of the players catching the selectors eye and being selected to represent England, Scotland and Wales in the 2002/2003 round of age group fixtures. Paul Mackinnons academy squad is made up of players from across the age range (U17 to U21). This hopefully makes for a smooth transition across the seasons as we never loose a complete side. All of the players are in full time education with most attending Northumbria, Newcastle or Durham Universities. Getting selected for the academy squad is not the end of the story. The players have been selected for their obvious ability but they also must have the potential to progress further and the correct attitude to play the game at the highest level. Players who do not achieve the required standards, or realise their estimated potential are released from the squad. 

The league playing record so far this season is:

Played 15
Won 10
Lost 4
Drawn 1 

Points for 354
Points against 254
League Points 51

Position 3rd

This season's results have been based on a solid forward performance and a back line who are keen to work for each other. There is a good team spirit with forwards and backs linking well. Up till this weekend, and the disappointing result against Harlequins, the only league fixture this season that the team has not gained at least one point was the 38 pts to 17 pts defeat away to Sale, and in that game we had three tries disallowed. The side has had a few close games with good wins, home and away against Bristol who were league champions last season. The home defeat by Leicester was disappointing but like the senior side the Leicester U21s took the chances available and made them into points. 

The dream of most of the players in the academy would be to be offered a contract after the final season in the U21s, but unfortunately dreams and reality are rarely the same. For the players who don’t get offered contracts it’s not the end of the world. Most will have had a great time, played some great rugby, visited some fantastic places (New Zealand Tour) and met some wonderful people. They will be better players for the attention and coaching that they have received and will no doubt go on to play rugby for many years at some other club. But, they will never forget the time they spent as part of the Falcons Academy. Members of the squad who have achieved International recognition this season are:

England U21s

Ben Woods
Geoff Parling
Matt Thompson

England U19s

Dave Wilson
Andy Buist
Ed Williamson

 Scotland U21s

Phil Godman
Mark Rennie

Scotland U19s

Andy Skeen

Wales U19s

William Kay

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Fixtures & Results Table to follow....

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