
Red Bull complete Newcastle Falcons takeover
The Gallagher PREM club, who will continue to play at Kingston Park and retain Steve Diamond as director of rugby, will now be known as Newcastle Red Bulls.
Red Bull has aspirations for the team to compete for trophies in England and Europe in the coming years.
The Austria-based company already has significant business interests in football, motor racing and winter sports.
Newcastle finished bottom of the Premiership table in each of the last three seasons.
The new ownership has pledged to develop local rugby talent through a 'strengthened academy program' and deliver 'a world-class fan experience'.
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull CEO of corporate projects and investments, said: '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.'
Newcastle begin the new season on Friday, September 26 at home to Saracens.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chesterfield heartbreakingly announce owner Phil Kirk's cancer treatment hasn't worked and he'll enter palliative care
CHESTERFIELD have confirmed the tragic news that owner Phil Kirk's cancer treatment has not been successful. Phil, who co-owns the League Two club with brother Ashley Kirk, will now enter palliative care. 4 A club statement announcing the heartbreaking news read: "Chesterfield Football Club owner Phil Kirk has been undergoing treatment for cancer in recent months. "Sadly, despite the best efforts of his medical team, the treatment has not been successful. Phil is now entering a period of palliative care. "Phil and his family remain deeply committed to the ongoing support of the club and its community. "The club will continue to operate as normal, and we are united in ensuring Phil's vision and values remain at the heart of everything we do." Phil was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in March. The outlook at the time was grim, and sadly the latest updates confirmed the club's worst fears. A club statement at the beginning of his treatment stated: "Over the next few months, he will be receiving treatment to prolong his life, but this is not expected to deliver a cure." 4 Fans and clubs from around the EFL have come forward with their condolences following the heartbreaking update. One Spireite fan gave testimony on X of the positive influence Phil and Ashley have had on the club since taking over in 2022. They said: "In all the 72 years of watching Chesterfield FC this is the saddest news I can ever remember coming from our club. "This man has made this club loved by young and old Phil this club and fans will never forget you." 4 4 Another fan added: This is deeply sad news. Phil, Ashley & everyone involved should be proud of the work done at town since their involvement. "His legacy will continue and town are in a much better place than when the Kirk family invested. Thoughts go to all." Since taking over, the brothers have invested over a million pounds on their way to earning the club promotion to the EFL at the end of the 2023-24 season. Their impressive campaign last season, their first in the EFL in six years, saw them earn their way into the playoffs with a seventh-place finish, where they were knocked out by Walsall. Their steady rise through the footballing pyramid, and the number of touching tributes from fans and rivals, is symbolic of the passion and the positive influence that the brothers have brought to the community in their limited time with the club thus far.


Times
2 minutes ago
- Times
Ex-Reform MP James McMurdock cleared by watchdog over Covid loans
A former Reform MP has been told to officially declare his directorship of a company that is facing questions over government-backed Covid loans. The parliamentary commissioner for standards said that James McMurdock should formally register his role in Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited after a complaint that he had broken Commons rules. However, the commissioner cleared McMurdock of withholding the information after hearing evidence that he was advised by the Commons authorities that it was unnecessary. McMurdock quit Reform in July after a Sunday Times investigation into £70,000 of loans taken by companies with which he was associated under the government's bounce back loans scheme during the pandemic. One was JAM Financial Limited, which had no employees and negligible assets until the pandemic. In 2020 it took out a loan of £50,000, the maximum sum available under the scheme for medium-sized businesses. For a company to have received such a loan, it would have needed to report turnover of at least £200,000. The other was Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, which was dormant until January 31, 2020. Over the following year it borrowed £20,000, which would have required a turnover of £80,000 under the bounce back scheme. Neither company filed accounts or annual corporate filings after the loans — a violation of the Companies Act 2006. As a result of the failure to submit the information required, both companies were due to be struck off the register, meaning they would have ceased to exist and any remaining assets would have been seized by the Crown. However, in February 2023, on the same day, the process of suspending both companies was halted after the company regulator received an objection from a third party. It is understood that this was related to the loans in some way. Both remain active on Companies House. McMurdock said that he was pleased to have been cleared by the commissioner, adding that he had spoken to other government agencies and there was 'no other investigation that I am aware of that requires my support'. He added: 'This was a malicious attack, without substance, designed to damage my reputation. It has failed.'


BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Liverpool closing in on deal for Parma defender Leoni
Liverpool are closing in on the signing of 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a fee of about £ centre-half has emerged as a key target for Arne Slot's side and is now set for a move to Italy Under-19 international began his career at Padova and had a short spell at Sampdoria before joining Parma last could further bolster their defensive ranks and remain in talks with Crystal Palace for England centre-back Marc Cup winners Palace are believed to want £40m for their captain, who only has 12 months left on his contract, but Liverpool want to pay less than Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.