Steve Diamond says he thought he had seen everything rugby could throw at him after more than 600 games in coaching — until Red Bull GmbH sacked him over Zoom.
The former Newcastle Falcons boss, who has coached at Sale Sharks, Saracens, Northampton Saints, Worcester Warriorsand Edinburgh Rugby, opened up on his departure following the club’s takeover by Red Bull.
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Diamond took charge of just one Premiership game after the takeover — a 39-17 defeat to Saracens — before being shown the door. While he insists he understood the owners wanted a different direction, he was furious with how the decision was delivered.
“There’s a certain amount of respect that’s needed,” Diamond told The Telegraph. “I wasn’t the right man for them. Fair play. They’ve got the right to do that. Then sit down and explain. Doing it by Zoom is not polite. I would never do that.”
Diamond admitted he quickly sensed he no longer fitted the image the new regime wanted despite being allowed to overhaul recruitment following the investment last summer.
He revealed he received a request for a 5pm Zoom meeting shortly after Newcastle’s opening defeat and joked with staff that “corporate people only sack you at five o’clock on a Friday.”
“Turns out I spoke too soon,” he said.
The 55-year-old also criticised Red Bull’s explanation for his departure, claiming executives repeatedly refused to clarify why he had been dismissed.
“They said, ‘we’re bringing world-class people in’. I asked, ‘Who are they?’ They said, ‘we don’t want to tell you.’”
Diamond also took aim at Red Bull UK managing director Pete Charles, adding:
“Pete Charles was selling crisps five years ago for Walkers. And that bloke sacks me.”
The outspoken coach rejected the club’s request to describe the split as “mutual consent”.
“I said, ‘Well, it’s not mutual. Just say I finished today. It’s your decision, not mine.’”
Rugby Quiz: Can you name every Prem winner?
Since its inaugural 1987–88 season, English Premiership Rugby has produced unforgettable champions, legendary squads, and some of the fiercest rivalries in the sport.
From dominant dynasties to dramatic underdog triumphs, this quiz will test how well you remember every club that has lifted the title. Can you name every Premiership Rugby winner since the league began?
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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