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#Post#: 153285--------------------------------------------------
McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: April 24, 2026, 4:17 am
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Newcastle Red Bulls have confirmed the appointment of Dan
McFarland from Kobelco Steelers as head coach next season.
The 54-year-old will arrive from Japan in the summer after the
conclusion of the Top League season.
Newcastle are bottom of the Prem with only one league win all
season but McFarland will take charge of a drastically
overhauled squad after a huge recruitment spree following the
Red Bull takeover in August last year.
"I'm very honoured to be joining Newcastle Red Bulls," McFarland
told the club website., external
"I'm looking forward to working with all the players and support
staff, and being heavily involved in one of the most exciting
projects in world rugby at the moment.
"Newcastle Red Bulls are a club intent on success. The
possibilities for the club are huge, but nothing happens in
sport without hard work and quality processes being put in
place."
Newcastle have been in need of a long-term head coach since the
departure of Alex Dickens in March, with attack coach Stephen
Jones promoted to lead the team until the end of the 2025-26
campaign.
Newcastle's signings for next season include the additions of
internationals Hoskins Sotutu, George Turner and Raffi Quirke.
"The excellent work done on recruitment has meant that there
will be lots of new talent arriving in the north east to join
the team, and after a great experience out in Japan over the
past couple of years I'm looking forward to getting stuck into
this exciting new challenge," McFarland added.
The former Scotland assistant coach will front a coaching set-up
with current caretaker boss Jones reverting back to an attack
remit and Benetton head coach Calum MacRae return to the club to
oversee defence.
"I'm delighted to be coming back to the club where it all
started for me as a coach, and at the start of an exciting new
chapter with Red Bull," said MacRae.
"The club's vision and ambition to compete at the top of the
Prem and Europe is clear. I'm highly motivated to contribute to
those objectives with a talented group of players and coaches.
"Having family in Newcastle and Teesside makes it even more
special for me to be representing both them and the people of
the north-east again."
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c4g81glx07lo
#Post#: 153326--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Scooter
Date: April 24, 2026, 12:41 pm
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That's a great appointment for NRB.
A very good coach.
#Post#: 153329--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: April 24, 2026, 1:16 pm
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--- Quote from: OScrote link ---
>
> That's a great appointment for NRB.
>
> A very good coach.
>
--- End Quote ---
Jolly good. Bye.
#Post#: 153335--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 25, 2026, 3:59 am
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Did I hear Lee Dickson is on their coaching staff?
#Post#: 153336--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Yareet
Date: April 25, 2026, 5:51 am
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--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> Did I hear Lee Dickson is on their coaching staff?
>
--- End Quote ---
Skills coach, I think
#Post#: 153352--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Iamsnakes
Date: April 25, 2026, 9:56 am
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I am not sure I would want someone who has not coached in the
prem pre prem
#Post#: 153353--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Iamsnakes
Date: April 25, 2026, 9:57 am
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Its also a shame that they didnt want Jason Gilmore.
Obviously there worldwide search was more world widely
#Post#: 153472--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: Yareet
Date: April 27, 2026, 1:45 am
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--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Skills coach, I think
>
--- End Quote ---
[attach=1]
#Post#: 153476--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 27, 2026, 2:45 am
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I mean no disrespect but I only know 2 of those?
#Post#: 153487--------------------------------------------------
Re: McFarland swaps Japan for Newcastle head coach role
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 27, 2026, 5:27 am
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Does that mean anything? I've not heard of all of them but that
just means I'm not up to speed.
McFarland is a hugely experienced coach and did a great job as
head coach for Ulster for 6 years.
MacRae was defence coach at Edinburgh for 6 years and then
Benetton for 4. He's their head coach at the moment.
Stephen Jones you know, I assume. He was already at Newcastle
but had coached Moana Pasifika, Wales, Scarlets, and Wasps.
Lee Dickson has been coaching Newcastle for a few years.
Micky Ward has been coaching at Newcastle for a very long time.
Mark Laycock has also been coaching at Newcastle for a long
time.
Seems like a good mix.
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