Newcastle Falcons Confirm Steve Diamond’s departure After Single Game Under New Ownership
Newcastle, UK - Newcastle Falcons have parted ways with director of rugby Steve Diamond after just one game under the club’s new ownership, the team confirmed today. The move comes as a surprise following a recent takeover by a consortium led by Frederick Wakeman.
Diamond’s dismissal follows Newcastle’s 29-7 defeat to Exeter Chiefs in the opening round of the Premiership Rugby season. While the club has not publicly detailed the reasons for the abrupt change, it signals a swift and decisive shift in direction by the new owners.
The change in leadership arrives alongside news of Scottish Rugby’s support for head coach Gregor Townsend’s new part-time consultancy role with Red Bull. A Scottish Rugby spokesperson stated, “Red Bull have appointed Gregor Townsend as strategic adviser and consultant on thier global rugby strategy with Scottish rugby’s full knowledge and support… He remains fully committed to his role as Scotland head coach and we see this new role working alongside that well.”
Elsewhere in rugby news, World Rugby has established new player workload guidelines aimed at protecting elite athletes. The guidelines limit consecutive match weeks to six, total games per season to 30, and mandate a five-week off-season break, alongside minimum rest periods and 12 weeks of non-contact time annually. These changes pave the way for the planned inaugural Nations Championship next year.
