First Team
TEAM NEWS: SIDES FOR SATURDAY'S DOUBLE HEADER
Newcastle Red Bulls have named their teams for Saturday’s double header at Kingston Park as they host Rotherham Titans and Glasgow Warriors in an action-packed afternoon.
The first of Saturday's two friendly matches kicks off at 2.30pm when newly-promoted Champ side Rotherham Titans provide the opposition.
That is then followed by a 5pm kick-off against Glasgow Warriors, with Newcastle pitting their wits against the Scottish side in a keenly-anticipated clash.
Both games are included on the 2026-27 season ticket, although holders need to confirm their attendance in advance by clicking here.
Non-season ticket holders can gain entry for just £10 adults and £5 juniors by clicking here.
Newcastle’s 2025-26 Player of the Season Alex Hearle captains the side for the opening match against Rotherham, with flanker Max Hicks making his Red Bulls debut after joining from Perpignan.
Brandon Jackson will be hoping to add to his try tally after dotting down the first score of the season during last week’s 53-31 home win over Doncaster Knights, while homegrown prop Elvis Kitenge-Fuki makes his first senior start for the club.
The second game of the day against Glasgow Warriors sees debuts for scrum-half Raffi Quirke, centre Will Rigg and flanker Sam Graham, with centre Chris Harris (pictured) playing his first match since re-joining his former club.
Scotland Under-20s fly-half Jake Dalziel, Fiji hooker Zuriel Togiatama and former Northampton prop Tom West are all in line for their debuts from the bench, with head coach Dan McFarland relishing the opportunity to build cohesion and match fitness.
“Having two games on the same day is a great chance for us to get some quality game time into most of our squad,” said the Red Bulls boss.
“It’s really valuable for us as coaches to get a good look at the guys in that match scenario, and for us to see the translation of what we have been working on in training into our games.
“These are our last pre-season friendlies before we move into the PREM Cup next week, and it’s a great chance for us to build on the positive start we made last weekend against Doncaster.”
McFarland added: “You can sense the excitement building, the season is getting closer and this will be a great opportunity for our supporters to come down and get a flavour of what we’re going to be about this year.
“We want to play high-energy rugby, showing plenty of pace and ambition, and I’m looking forward to seeing the progression of our game in both of these matches.”
Supporters are advised that Saturday’s double header is not being televised.
Newcastle Red Bulls v Rotherham Titans (Saturday, 2.30pm, Kingston Park)
15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Nathan Greenwood, 13 Alex Hearle (captain), 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Brandon Jackson, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Joe Davis; 1 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, 2 Samson Adejimi, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Finn Baker, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Charlie Evans, 8 Adam Scott.
Replacements: 6 George Bolam, 7 Charlie Turnbull, 8 Euan Oakes, 9 Fergus Callington (Durham University), 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Paul Masoe (Doncaster Knights), 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Dom Wade (Durham University), 20 Lucas Oxley (Newcastle University), 21 Charlie Dinneen, 22 Alfie Warwick, 23 Oli Spencer.
Rotherham Titans: 15 Ryan McGloin, 14 Jackson Barling, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Ben Cambriani, 10 Russell Bennett (captain), 9 JB Bruzulier; 1 Zac Nearchou, 2 Morgan Veness, 3 Tom Bairstow, 4 Louis Guthrie, 5 John Okafor, 6 James Brown, 7 Harry Stone, 8 Ellis Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Louis Inman, 17 Alastair Donkor, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Curran Maguire, 20 Jack Baldry, 21 Travis Gordon, 22 Lekima Ravuvu, 23 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 24 Tom Threlfall, 25 Gus Patterson, 26 Mitchell Lacey.
Referee: Harry Walbaum.
Newcastle Red Bulls v Glasgow Warriors (Saturday, 5pm, Kingston Park)
15 Josh Hodge, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Raffi Quirke; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 George McGuigan, 3 James Harper, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Sam Graham, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.
Replacements: 3 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, 7 George Bolam, 9 James Elliott, 10 Jake Dalziel, 12 Sammy Arnold, 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Tom West, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Allan Ferrie, 21 Alfie Warwick, 22 Oli Spencer, 23 Harrison Obatoyinbo.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Fergus Watson, 14 Cameron van Wyk, 13 Kerr Johnston, 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Guy Rogers, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Jack Oliver; 1 Jake Shearer, 2 Ottavio Tuipulotu, 3 Murphy Walker, 4 Dan Halkon, 5 Jare Ogntibeju, 6 Dylan Cockburn, 7 Angus Fraser, 8 Macenzzie Duncan.
Replacements: 16 Jamie McAughtrie, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ruaraidh Hart, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Callum Reidy, 22 Johnny Ventisei, 23 Bayley Kuenzle, 16 Joe Roberts, 17 Ollie McKenna, 20 Harvey Preston, 9 Gregor Johnston, 10 Dan Lancaster, 11 Harry Provan, 14 Alex Bryden, 15 Josh McKay.
Referee: Hamish Smales.
