The Red Bull group has assumed ownership of Newcastle Falcons rugby club, a move hailed as a 'landmark moment' for the sport. The club, now rebranded as Newcastle Red Bulls, is hoping to turn around its fortunes after a difficult few season.
The team will continue to play at its Kingston Park stadium on the edge of the city, with an enhanced emphasis on nurturing local talent through its academy. Steve Diamond, the current Director of Rugby, will maintain his role as he gears up the team for the upcoming season and lays the groundwork for a club that aspires to vie for trophies in England and Europe in future years.
With its establishment in 1987, Red Bull has amassed extensive experience in the sports sector, collaborating with over 900 athletes and teams. It has achieved success with two Formula One teams and formed alliances with several top-tier football clubs. Newcastle Rugby Ltd itself boasts a rich heritage, having been founded in 1877 as Gosforth Football Club. In 1990, the club was renamed Newcastle Gosforth and began playing at Kingston Park stadium.
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In 1996, following the advent of professionalism, the club briefly took on the name Newcastle Rugby Club before settling on Newcastle Falcons. The club has clinched five major titles, including the Premiership in 1998 and four domestic cups in 1976, 1977, 2001 and 2004, reports .
However, Newcastle has languished at the bottom of the Premiership table for the past three seasons and has found it challenging to match the salaries offered by other teams. Several of the club's key players departed last season.
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, stated: "Together, we aim to elevate rugby to new heights and deliver unforgettable moments for our fans. We're delighted to have acquired Newcastle Red Bulls and look forward to empowering the club to reach its full competitive potential."
Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO of PREM Rugby, commented: "Red Bull's takeover of Newcastle is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful endorsement of our vision and strategy for the future of the Gallagher PREM.
"We are hugely excited by Red Bull's ambition for the club, which includes developing the player pathway in the North East and growing the club's fanbase. Their track record in global sport, from high-performance expertise to world-class marketing, will bring enormous value not only to Newcastle but to the Gallagher PREM as a whole.
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"I would like to formally thank Semore Kurdi and Dave Thompson, whose long-standing stewardship and dedication to Newcastle Rugby have been instrumental in paving the way for this transformational deal. This investment follows a period of sustained fan growth, alongside foundational deals with TNT Sports, title partners Gallagher and other commercial partners plus the milestone Professional Game Partnership with the RFU, which are all building strength and momentum across the Gallagher PREM and the English game.
"It validates the progress we've made, the league's current standing in the sport and its vast potential, which we are working hard to unlock with further reform so we can take the Gallagher PREM to the next level. Red Bull share our ambition to raise standards and we look forward to working together to shape the PREM into a world-leading, globally loved rugby competition."
Newcastle begin the new season on Friday, September 26 at home to Saracens. Earlier this week it announced the signing of Argentina scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz on a two-year deal.