High-flying Premiership outfit Saracens are reportedly in talks to secure the services of Newcastle Falcons’ emerging talent, Phil Brantingham, for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Rumours swirling around online suggest that the reigning Premiership champions are highly optimistic about finalising the deal with the promising loose-head prop.
Hailing from the local scene, Brantingham made his mark when he ascended to the Falcons’ senior academy in the summer of 2020. His rugby journey has roots in RGS Newcastle, Morpeth RFC, Northumberland County, the Falcons Academy, and even represented England Under-18s.
The versatile athlete also delved into rugby league, showcasing his skills for Cramlington and Newcastle Thunder through a dual-academy pathway until the age of 17 when he made the pivotal decision to focus solely on rugby union.
Having earned caps with England Under-20s, Brantingham’s trajectory faced a setback due to a knee injury, sidelining him during the latter stages of the 2021 U20 Six Nations after making a strong impression in the initial rounds.
Brantingham’s debut for the Falcons’ first team came at home against Gloucester in the 2021-22 Gallagher Premiership season, where he went on to feature in six matches for the club during the 2022-23 campaign.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe potential departure of one of their brightest young talents would be a significant blow to the Falcons, especially as the club aims to build a competitive squad through their academy.
While the winless Falcons have been on the brink of victory several times this season, they are still in pursuit of their maiden triumph. Their upcoming clash against Harlequins this Friday presents an opportunity to turn the tide and register that elusive first win.
Why Owen Farrell and England teammate fell out and didn’t speak
#1. Dave Attwood
” I was saying it to take the piss kind of thing, ‘a bloody sport for the peasants’. He f**kin’ hated it and out in Italy or maybe France he fully lost the plot. He had a bit of a shout at me and went off to the toilet and I followed him.
“We all had a drink or two after the game but we didn’t need to get carried away with this. I was in the urinal behind the door and he was three or four down and as I got in his dad walked in as well, he was coaching at the time. He was, ‘I don’t want to fuckin’ hear it’ or something like that and as he walked out he went to open the door and slam it into the back of me. There was like a stop on the floor so it hit the stop and almost clocked him back…
“We never really addressed it after that.
“So whenever we play each other there is always some element in the game where one of us is running at the other one or we are trying to bang each other. There always seems to be an element of that to it. I am sure he is like, I don’t even know that Dave is playing.”
Dave Attwood facts:
He made 157 appearances in Blue, Black and White over an eight-year period during his first spell at Bath before returning in 2022
His debut came against Newcastle Falcons at the beginning of the 2011/12 season after arriving from Gloucester, scoring four tries in his first campaign
The lock quickly established himself as a key player in the Bath pack and excelled at international level too, with 22 of his 24 England caps coming whilst at the Re
The former England international has also played for Bristol (twice), Gloucester and Toulon during his established career
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