Sale Sharks sign Charlie Amesbury

Posted on Mar 30, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Steve Diamond has snapped up another northern light as his Sharks revolution thunders along.

The Edgeley Park executive director of sport has secured the signing of winger Charlie Amesbury from Newcastle Falcons on a two year deal.

The 25-year-old former Harlequins star’s progress at Kingston Park has been hampered by injury of late but Diamond believes he fits to a tee the template of what he is trying to build at Edgeley Park.

“Charlie is young, hungry and what we are all about," said the Sharks’ executive director of sport.

"He is a good signing for us whose chances at Newcastle have been limited of late due to an injury, but he is back to full fitness and I am looking forward to welcoming him to the club for pre-season training in June.

"He did really well at Harlequins and when I knew he was looking to move on from Newcastle, I met up with him and discovered he was very keen to play with the likes of Mark Cueto and I’m delighted to have signed him.

"Charlie is quick and he’s got good hands. There’s been lots of conjuncture about at the moment as to way Sale play but with all due respect to myself, Pete Anglesea and Stevie Scott who are forwards we will be bringing a backs coach to help.

"We all come from a background where we played rugby. The job in hand when I arrived was to stay up, put a team together and to get the facilities right and in all three directions we are steaming ahead."

Amesbury follows in the footsteps of fellow northern star – Leeds forward Kearnan Myall – whose capture for next season Diamond secured earlier this month and who produced a superb all-round display in the Yorkshire side’s 15-12 defeat by Sale last Friday.

For his part Amesbury, who is a former England Sevens international and who has also played for Exeter Chiefs, admitted he was hugely excited at the prospect of heading south up the A1 to form part of Diamond’s new-look Sale squad.

“I have enjoyed my time at Newcastle and thank everyone there for the support over the past two years but the time is right for me to take up this new challenge at Sale Sharks who are clearly showing a huge amount of ambition moving forward," said Amesbury.

The Sale boss’s hectic recruitment process continues apace with more signings secured and set to be unveiled but one gap in Sale’s armoury for next season remains at fly-half given the imminent departure of Charlie Hodgson to Saracens.

"That’s an issue that we’re working on and giving a lot of attention to," Diamond added.

Tait challenges Falcons to deliver

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 in Rugby News

Newcastle first team coach Alan Tait has challenged his players to turn words into deeds on Saturday, as the Falcons look to regain their place in the top half of the Guinness Premiership table against London Irish.

The Exiles travel to Kingston Park for a 5.30pm kick-off, with Tait insisting that a victory is the absolute minimum requirement for his side to fulfil its top six ambitions.

“The players are talking the talk at the moment about finishing in the top half of the league, but now’s the time to see if they can back it up with their actions,” said the dual-code Scotland and Lions star.

“We can all sit here and say we’re going to finish in a Heineken Cup place, but if you don’t go out and win games then it’s just words.

“If the players are going to talk big about things like the top six then they need to bring in at least four points this weekend, it’s as simple as that.”

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Falcons make one change for Saints’ visit

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons have made just one change to their side for Friday night’s Guinness Premiership visit of Northampton Saints to Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).

Following on from Sunday’s 15-11 win at high-flying London Irish director of rugby Steve Bates has chosen to stick with the bulk of that side, the only change coming on the wing as Tom Biggs replaces fellow Yorkshireman Danny Williams.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bates said: “Last weekend was a fantastic result down at London Irish, on the back of a lot of hard work.

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Charlie Amesbury looks to get one over on Quins

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 in Rugby News

Flying Falcon Charlie Amesbury will be looking to get one over on his former club, as Harlequins travel to face Newcastle in Sunday’s LV= Cup clash at Kingston Park (kick-off 3pm).

The 23-year-old has been one of the finds of the season for the Falcons, scoring three tries in his ten appearances at both winger and fullback.

Having featured in the 17-17 draw when Newcastle and Harlequins met at Kingston Park in league action back in September, the former England Sevens international said: “I’ve already had that experience once this year, playing against my old team, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I was dreading it before the game thinking they were going to give me digs here there and everywhere, but I got my fair share and really enjoyed being up against some good friends and former team mates.

“At the end of the day I’m a Newcastle player now, and although Harlequins holds a bit of sentiment for me Sunday is no different to any other game.

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