Newcastle 'will continue to be selling club' - Diamond

Steve Diamond has seen Newcastle win four of their last five games in all competitions

Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond says that they will have to be a "selling club" while they try to turn their fortunes around.

This comes after Bristol Bears announced last week that Newcastle's Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo will be joining them from next season.

Rubiolo, 21, who joined the Falcons in January 2023 just after he had turned 20, started all three of the Pumas' November internationals.

"It's frustrating to lose Pedro but people won't like me saying this - for the next three or four years while we build this place, we are going to be a selling club," said Diamond.

Operating with a reduced budget and a streamlined squad of 38 players, Diamond is running a tight ship at Kingston Park.

His longer-term plan is to have a vibrant production line from the club's academy but in the meantime, Newcastle will be vulnerable to having their best players picked off by wealthier rivals.

"We find people like Pedro and Santi Carreras and various other Argentinian lads who have been great for Newcastle over the years, but when the big dogs come paying the big dollars, we can't compete," he said.

"Newcastle can take credit for identifying youth and bringing them through but there is always parasitical behaviour where the bigger clubs come in and nick your players so we just have to put up with it.

"It's not nice, it doesn't leave the best taste in your mouth, but that's the way it is unfortunately."

Newcastle have won their last three games at Kingston Park

'Howling wind and sleet and snow'

Newcastle resume their Premiership campaign bottom of the table, but with victory over Exeter Chiefs last month - ending a run of 25 consecutive league losses - still fresh in the mind.

They have since won all three of their Premiership Rugby Cup matches this month, including a one-point win over Sale Sharks, building belief and confidence in the squad.

On Friday they welcome Saracens to Kingston Park (19:45 GMT), with Diamond hoping that home advantage pays dividends.

"I'm delighted with the run in the Prem Cup," he said.

"It's not the Premiership obviously, but from where we were to where we're trying to get to, the momentum is good to effectively win four out of five games," he said.

"With the weather changing considerably across the country, it does give the feeling that we know what we're doing a bit more up here on a Friday night.

"The teams are in the hotel from Thursday lunchtime, coming out here in the howling wind and sleet and snow.

"Confidence is good and there is no reason why we can't come out on Friday night and play the game plan that we've put in place and believe that works because it has worked over the last three or four weeks."