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DARREN FEARN JOINS AS TRANSITION COACH
Newcastle Red Bulls are welcoming Darren Fearn back to the club, with the Doncaster Knights head coach returning as transition coach.
A former Newcastle prop who also played for Sale Sharks and Bedford Blues, Fearn’s burgeoning coaching career has seen him thriving in the Champ with Doncaster as well as coaching England Students, Newcastle University and Northumbria University.
Newcastle Red Bulls’ academy and pathways director John Fletcher said: “Our senior academy squad is considerably bigger next season so it’s important we put in place the appropriate level of support and expertise, and in Darren we are certainly getting someone who will offer that.
“He’s coming here as a transition coach to work with the senior academy and associate academy players, supporting the confirmation phase coaches in transitioning players into the senior squad.
“He has played for the club, knows the region well and has been involved with both universities in the city as well as coaching England Students.
“He arrives from Doncaster Knights where he was originally forwards coach, more recently being promoted to head coach, and he has done a great job there. All the feedback we’ve had on him has been outstanding, and he’ll be a great addition here with his character and coaching ability.”
Relishing the opportunity to return to the club, Fearn said: “I loved my time as a player at Newcastle and it’s great to be coming back.
“My kids were born in Newcastle, I’ve coached at both universities in the city and the club means a lot to me. They gave me my first contract, a lot of my close friends are there and from a sentimental point of view as well as a professional one it’s a really exciting move.”
Thankful to Doncaster Knights as he says goodbye to the Yorkshire side, he added: “Donny is a really good club and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“I owe them so much because they gave me a great opportunity. There are loads of really good people there, and I’ve learned so much working with the likes of Sir Ian McGeechan. Speaking to a guy as experienced and knowledgeable as him on a daily basis has been priceless, and there’s been so much learning and development from coaching in that Champ environment.”
As a northerner himself, Fearn is taking great delight in the opportunity to help bring through the brightest prospects in the region, explaining: “There’s a real talent base up here, and the transition coaching role is massive in helping bring those guys through to the senior environment.
“Newcastle’s senior academy squad for next season is a big group and they need the support around them to reflect that, which for me is ideal because the bulk of my coaching career has really been in and around that sort of age range. There’s a huge amount of development needed in that 18 to 24 bracket, and it excites me to think about the potential here if we can really nail that route from the academy into the first team.
“I’ve always had an affinity for the club, but it’s obviously very exciting at the moment with the new ownership and all the possibilities around it. We’ve had good people at the club and loads of talent in the area for many years, and with the proper infrastructure and support now being put in place I don’t think there’s any limit to where we can go.”
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