Diamond: We'll be fit and raring to go

STEVE Diamond insists Newcastle Falcons will be fit for purpose when they kick off the new Premiership season at home to Bristol on Friday, September 20.

- JON NERWCOMBE

Having enjoyed themselves “supping copious amounts of Guinness” at the Galway races, the Falcons squad – streamlined to 35 senior players – will soon explore the Northumberland coast for a couple of nights camping.

But those rewards have been earned, with Diamond heralding the condition of his players.

“The irony is that the six players who have joined us from other Premiership clubs aren’t as fit as the players that were here. So we know we have got them in good nick, so it is now a bit of knowledge put into them and skill and we’ll see where they’ll go,” Diamond told The Rugby Paper.

“Our target is to be a highly competitive Premiership team and over the next two weeks when we go away camping we will work on the strategy of how that is going to happen. At the moment we are just drilling the basics, and we are looking pretty good in those areas.