10-05-2025
Red Bull emerges as potential buyer for Newcastle Falcons
Red Bull has emerged as a potential buyer of Newcastle Falcons, the Premiership club that have been searching for a cash injection over the past year.
The energy drinks giant has an investment portfolio that includes several sporting organisations around the world, including the Formula One team that bears its name and Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. It also has had an existing relationship with rugby union for some time through its sponsorship of individual players such as England wing Jack Nowell.
Sources indicated that funds could arrive in time for next season, offering scope for the Falcons squad to be bolstered ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Newcastle owner Semore Kurdi announced his intention to sell up in November before it became apparent that Premiership clubs and CVC had been planning a loan of around £4 million to keep Falcons afloat.
This latest development, first reported on Thursday by RugbyPass, comes with confirmation of a new, long-term broadcast deal between the Premiership and TNT Sports, which has been hailed as a boost for the league's long-term stability.
One senior source in the English game voiced the opinion that the Premiership has 'ridden an almighty storm and made significant progress towards fixing its foundations', which 'will help attract crucial investment'.
The Premiership final at Twickenham on June 14 is forecast to reach a sell-out over the coming days, hinting at unprecedented levels of interest.
Currently bottom of the Premiership with two wins this season, having experienced persistent turnover of players over recent years, Falcons are seen as a critical part of the English rugby union landscape. Should the Premiership's franchising plans accelerate, a geographical spread of clubs around the country will be vital.
Steve Diamond, the Falcons director of rugby, has made no secret of the feeling that Newcastle have been in a 'holding pattern'.
The departure of Callum Chick to Northampton Saints, announced last week, was just the latest example of Falcons seeing homegrown stars leave the club.
𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐, 𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆𝙔
After 170 appearances over nine seasons, club captain Callum Chick will depart Newcastle Falcons at the end of the current campaign.
The 28-year-old back-rower heads down to Northampton Saints, insisting he takes nothing but fond memories from…
— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) May 6, 2025
Ben Redshaw, the highly-rated full-back, is heading to Gloucester over the summer, with hooker Jamie Blamire bound for Leicester Tigers.
It is thought that Newcastle will use any new funds to bolster their development pathways and give themselves greater leverage to keep these academy prospects on Tyneside.
'What we need to do is build it up and reinforce the academy first, perhaps bringing in eight senior players in the first year of the project,' said a source.
'Then we can go from there, aiming for established names in year two and beyond. Right now, those bigger names just aren't available.'
