
Ah You relishing prospect of home debut on Friday
The 30-year-old boasts well over 100 games worth of Pro 14 experience from his time at Ulster and Connacht, and could be set to be unleashed against Leicester Tigers in a game pivotal to the Falcons’ ongoing ‘Great Escape’.
Newcastle have won three of their last four Premiership outings, and led at half-time against a Saracens side who have been unbeaten at home in well over a year.
“I was over the moon coming back and just getting out onto a rugby field again,” said Ah You, the industrious tight-head who offers a ball-carrying threat around the field as well as the nuts and bolts of his set-piece.
“To get half an hour in the A-Team win against Sale last Monday night was a great feeling after being injured since coming here, and a long time coming.
“It’s obviously not ideal to come to a new club and spend so long out injured, and it was just awesome to be out there with the boys after watching so many of their games from the stands during my rehab.
“Making my Gallagher Premiership debut last weekend was another brilliant experience, especially against another class side like Saracens.”
More frustrated than anyone by the wait he has had to endure, Ah You said: “It was nice just to get amongst the boys and finally play a game for the club.
“We were gutted not to get the result down at Saracens and then to have the bonus point taken away at the end, but performance-wise it wasn’t too bad.
“In the first half we really stuck to our guns, we were very physical and to lead at half-time was great. Holding onto the lead is the next step for us to take, but the boys have been in good form recently and we’ll be looking to take that into the Leicester game on Friday.”
Refusing to take the Tigers lightly despite the well-publicised results of the East Midlands giants, Ah You is expecting a busy evening if he is involved.
“Leicester have got a big set of forwards and there’ll be an emphasis on taking them on in that area, as there is in any game,” he said.
“They back themselves at scrum-time so the set-piece is going to be very important, we’re looking to expose them in certain areas, but obviously I’m not going to give too much away about the specifics on that.”
Glad just to be part of things after a long and gruelling rehab, he added: “Even when I got to warm up with the squad on the field before the last couple of home games, I was absolutely buzzing.
“I love the atmosphere here on game day, the fans really get the behind the team and that’s one of the many things I enjoy about being here in Newcastle.
“I’ve been pretty gutted that it’s taken me so long to get injury-free but I’m finally there now, and I’m just chomping at the bit to get out there again if I’m lucky enough to get selected on Friday.”
Tickets for Friday’s 7.45pm kick-off at Kingston Park Stadium are available by [**clicking here**][1].
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/EDP/Event/Index/1387