New signing to debut as league campaign begins

BOETA Chamberlain makes his Newcastle Red Bulls debut tonight as they kick off the new Gallagher PREM season at home to Saracens.

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Chamberlain will make his Red Bulls debut tonight DARREN STEWART/GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

(DARREN STEWART GALLO IMAGES GETTY IMAGES)

The 7.45pm kickoff at Kingston Park sees the South African starting at fullback as Steve Diamond's men look to continue the momentum from their PREM Rugby Cup victory over Harlequins a fortnight ago.

George McGuigan captains the side just one score away from his 50th Newcastle try, with the prolific hooker having crossed 49 times in his 166 appearances for the club.

Amanaki Mafi continues at No.8 after a powerful debut, and there could be first outings for fellow summer arrivals Freddie Clarke and Fergus Lee-Warner, who are both named among the replacements.

Former Saracen Elliott Obatoyinbo is in line to play his 50th game for Newcastle should he be called upon from the bench, with the fullback having recovered from a knee injury sustained at Leicester on the final day of last season.

Newcastle were 17-12 winners when they hosted Saracens in November of last year and took a four-try bonus point from April's away game, but director of rugby Steve Diamond knows the Londoners are not to be taken lightly.