Newcastle start Red Bull era with Prem Rugby Cup win

Newcastle Red Bulls kicked off their new era with a comfortable 26-14 win against Harlequins in the Prem Rugby Cup, in front of a record cup crowd of 9,089 at a rain-drenched Kingston Park.

Newcastle, who have rebranded from the Falcons into the Red Bulls following the completion of a takeover in August, were always in control against Quins in their Pool B opener.

Tries from George McGuigan and Murray McCallum in the first half, followed by scores from Oli Spencer and Alex Hearle in the second, kept a youthful Quins outfit at arm’s length throughout and secured a bonus-point victory.

Danny Wilson took charge of Quins for the final time before he joins the coaching staff of Wales’ national team.

In Friday’s other match, Gloucester registered a perfect opening to their Prem Cup campaign with a 29-15 bonus-point victory over Exeter Chiefs in their Pool A fixture at Kingsholm.

Gloucester had to fight hard to gain control against Rob Baxter’s Chiefs and needed a strong second-half performance to put the game to bed.

Three tries from the visitors in the first half saw them go in at the break 15-14 up, before the hosts ran in two tries from Josiah Edwards-Giraud and Jack Innard, to go with a penalty from the boot of George Barton, to stretch clear.

Yet the night was all about new beginnings in Newcastle, where the Red Bull investment has energised a side that made the semi-finals of this competition but finished bottom of the Premiership last season.