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TEAM NEWS: SIDE FOR FRIDAY CUP CLASH
Reuben Parsons captains Newcastle Red Bulls for the first time on Friday when they host Saracens in PREM Rugby Cup action.
The 7.45pm kick-off at Kingston Park sees the 20-year-old Cumbrian (pictured) leading a freshened-up side into battle as the Red Bulls continue their quest for a spot in the semi-finals.
Kiwi hooker Bryn Gordon makes his Newcastle debut following his mid-season move from North Harbour, with centre Rhys Beeckmans starting his first game having made three appearances from the bench.
Cameron Hutchison starts at fly-half in a back line which sees the return of South African pair Boeta Chamberlain and Stefan Coetzee, with prop Connor Hancock making his first start.
Eighteen-year-old back-rower George Bolam is set to make his first team debut having been named among the replacements, as is 28-year-old Fraser Renwick, the Hawick and former Scotland Under-20s hooker who has been training with the club for the past few weeks.
Head coach Alan Dickens said: “This game is a great opportunity for a number of guys to come in and show us what they can do.
“Driving healthy competition for places is really important for us, and having used a similar core group of players for a number of weeks now it will be great to see this group step up and try to stake their claim.
“There’s plenty of talent in the squad, which we see every day in training, and Friday is a big opportunity to see it in a match scenario.
“It’s also important that we look after a number of lads who have played a lot of rugby this season, and we have to manage their load responsibly. Guys like Tom Christie and Simón Benítez Cruz have been playing pretty much continuously for the best part of a year, and it’s important to factor some rest into their programme.”
Playing Saracens for the second time inside a week, Dickens said: “It almost feels like the old European Cup format where you’d play a team back to back.
“Obviously it will be different personnel from last weekend down in London, but it’s the same club and the same systems, so we know what kind of test awaits us.
“We will obviously be looking for some big improvements having failed to build on a strong start down there last weekend, and there was a huge feeling of disappointment at how we allowed the game to get away from us.
“That’s not to take anything away from a Saracens side who performed well on the day, but we’ll be looking for a major reaction on Friday after a good training week during which the lads have taken all the messages on board.”
Season ticket holders are reminded that this match IS included in their 2025-26 package.
Tickets can be bought by clicking here, and supporters are advised that this game is not being televised or streamed live.
Newcastle Red Bulls v Saracens (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park)
15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Max Clark, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Nathan Greenwood, 10 Cameron Hutchison, 9 James Elliott; 1 Connor Hancock, 2 Bryn Gordon, 3 Luan de Bruin, 4 Tim Cardall, 5 Finn Baker, 6 Reuben Parsons (captain), 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Freddie Lockwood.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Renwick, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Seb de Chaves, 20 George Bolam, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 23 Sam Waugh.
Not available for selection: Eduardo Bello, Freddie Clarke, Joe Davis, Connor Doherty, Hame Faiva, Joel Grayson, Callum Hancock, John Hawkins, Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Fergus Lee-Warner, Amanaki Mafi, Christian Wade, Liam Williams.
Saracens: 15 Angus Hall, 14 Finn Keylock, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Brandon Jackson, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 Charlie Bracken; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 James Hadfield, 3 Tietie Tuimauga, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Olamide Sodeke, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Charlie West, 8 Nathan Michelow (captain).
Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 Harvey Beaton, 19 Tayo Adegbemile, 20 Reggie Hammick, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Luke Davidson, 23 Ben Morrow.
Referee: Richard Gordon.
Fraser Renwick biog:
Born: 5/5/1997
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.80m (5 foot 11)
Weight: 104kg (16 stone 5)
Honours: Scotland U20
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