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SENIOR ACADEMY INTAKE FOR 2026-27
Newcastle Red Bulls have announced their senior academy intake for the 2026-27 season.
A total of seven players will join the club on full-time rookie contracts, with Jake Dalziel (fly-half), Charlie Dinneen (fly-half/full-back), Will Graham (hooker), Harry Hawkins (wing/centre), Euan Oakes (back row), Nathan Rickerby (prop) and Alfie Warwick (wing) all signing up.
In addition, Oliver Ashton (centre) and Jack Nesbitt (hooker) will join on university scholar agreements, while Charlie Evans (back row) and Oliver Green (centre) will arrive on a summer trial basis.
Explaining the structure of the player influx, pathways and academy director John Fletcher said: “The rookie contract is a full-time standardised contract across all of the clubs for two years which gives the players a good opportunity to live as a full-time professional, and we have seven lads coming to us on that basis.
“A number of them are considering university. Most of them have offers which we are working through at the moment, and then slightly different to that are our two university scholar contracts for Oliver Ashton and Jack Nesbitt. Those two lads are going to university, their playing programme will have university rugby as its priority and they’ll train and play with us around those commitments.
“In addition we also have Charlie Evans and Oliver Green spending a couple of months on trial with us over pre-season. They have both demonstrated some ability and we want to have a look at them in a professional environment.”
Head of academy James Ponton said: “We had a strong Under-18s cohort this season and it has been difficult selecting which players to contract on a full-time basis, but we’re really excited about this year’s intake.
“The increased number of players joining our senior academy is a reflection of the ability within the group, and we’ve really bolstered our resources as an academy to give the guys the appropriate level of coaching and infrastructure in supporting them coming through.
“It feels new and different to how the senior academy has worked before, with having such a big group, but we’re looking forward to it.
“As well as increasing our coaching and support staff we’re also looking at getting the guys out playing more rugby alongside their programmes here, be it clubs, universities or a combination of both. We’re strengthening those links all the time in putting the players’ development at the forefront, because playing regular rugby is incredibly important for them.”
ROOKIE CONTRACT PLAYERS
JAKE DALZIEL (Position: Fly-half, Born 18/8/2008, Height: 1.95m, Weight: 93kg, School: Merchiston, Club: Melrose)
Jake Dalziel
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Fly-half Jake was the youngest player in the Scotland Under-20s squad for this season's Six Nations, with the Melrose-born 17-year-old winning player of the match on his debut against Italy. The Merchiston pupil started all five games for the Scots during the Six Nations, and made the four-man shortlist for player of the tournament across all six teams.
CHARLIE DINNEEN (Position: Fly-half/full-back, Born: 11/11/2007, Height: 1.85m, Weight: 78kg, School: Sedbergh, Club: Kendal)
Charlie Dinneen
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Cumbrian Charlie plays his club rugby for Kendal and has come through the Sedbergh School system. Able to operate at fly-half or full-back, the athletic back boasts an abundance of skill and pace in attack.
WILL GRAHAM (Position: Hooker, Born: 8/5/2008, Height: 1.90m, Weight: 113kg, School: Dame Allan's, Club: Percy Park)
Will Graham
© NRB
Hooker Will plays his club rugby at Percy Park in North Tyneside, and has come through at Dame Allan's School in Newcastle. Renowned for his throwing ability, running and passing skills, he has the physical attributes to push on in the game having transitioned from the back row.
HARRY HAWKINS (Position: Wing/centre, Born: 20/11/2007, Height: 1.88m, Weight: 95kg, School: Sedbergh)
Harry Hawkins
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Sedbergh pupil Harry is renowned for his aggression and confrontational midfield player, taking the ball hard at the line. He arrives having gone through the Scotland age-group system.
EUAN OAKES (Position: Back row, Born: 6/1/2008, Height: 1.94m, Weight: 81kg, School: Gosforth Academy, Club: Durham City)
Euan Oakes
© NRB
Blind-side flanker Euan was in the England Under-18s training squad earlier this season, having captained Newcastle Red Bulls' side at that age group. A member of the Gosforth Academy ACE programme, Durham City player Euan is the son of ex-Newcastle lock, Jason Oakes. Among his attributes are aerial ability, line-out understanding, leadership and aggression.
NATHAN RICKERBY (Position: Prop, Born: 26/2/2008, Height: 1.85m, Weight: 119kg, School: Gosforth Academy, Club: Keswick)
Nathan Rickerby
© NRB
Cumbrian prop Nathan is a product of the ACE programme at Gosforth Academy, playing his club rugby with Keswick. Nathan enjoys scrummaging and possesses the physical attributes to develop further within the sport.
ALFIE WARWICK (Position: Wing, Born: 18/8/2008, Height: 1.73m, Weight: 74kg, School: Gosforth Academy, Club: Wigton)
Alfie Warwick
© NRB
Winger Alfie is renowned for his evasion skills, beating defenders with footwork and pace and this season earning a place in England Under-18s’ training squad. The Cumbrian plays his club rugby with Wigton and has developed through Newcastle's ACE programme at Gosforth Academy.
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS
OLIVER ASHTON (Position: Centre, Born: 28/9/2007, Height: 1.85m, Weight: 95kg, School: Sedbergh, Club: Darlington RFC)
Oliver Ashton
© NRB
Centre Oliver is known for his aggressive and confrontational play, hitting the line at pace and driving through contact. A pupil at Sedbergh School who will arrive on a university scholar contract, he has played his junior rugby with Darlington RFC.
JACK NESBITT (Position: Hooker, Born: 10/2/2008, Height: 1.81m, Weight: 93kg, School: Sedbergh, Club: North Edinburgh Vikings)
Jack Nesbitt
© NRB
Sedbergh School hooker Jack joins on a university scholar basis. A renowned jackal threat who has good line-out throwing ability, the former Edinburgh Vikings junior is known for fighting through contact.
Senior academy intake 2026-27
© NRB
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