Falcons Join World In Union
New signing Jon Welsh was the latest Falcon to be involved in the Rugby World Cup as an unused substitute in what turned out to be a comprehensive win over Japan for the Scots, who will face South Africa and Samoa on Tyneside in the coming weeks.
The club’s first involvement came in game two of the competition and saw Tongan back row Nili Latu and scrum half Sonatane Takulua take on a Georgian side that their Falcons club mates overcame 27-7 in a pre-season fixture in August.
Played in front of a packed crowd in Gloucester, it was the Lelos who caused the day’s first upset as sheer determination saw off the threat from the Ikhale Thai in the first Rugby World Cup match ever that the Georgians scored more than one try.
Following Japan’s epic win against South Africa at Twickenham Stadium the club’s Italian contingent, Lock Josh Furno and summer signing Giamba Venditti put in solid displays in the Azzurri’s 32-10 defeat to France with Venditti crossing for his side’s try.
Speaking to the club on Tuesday, Venditti said: “I was very excited before the game, the entry onto the field stage was really incredible with the stadium in darkness before all the lights and music came into life.
“It was strange to play at Twickenham against a different team from England and though we all would have liked to start the tournament with a win, but France earned it more than us.”
It was a Falcons head to head for the club in Sunday’s first game, with Eric Fry’s USA taking on Alesana Tuilagi’s Samoa in Brighton in the final involvement for club players of the weekend.
The South Sea Islanders enjoyed a controlled win despite the best efforts of the Americans, with a 25-16 win, while both of the club’s players personified national pride with Fry’s passionate signing of his national anthem and Tuilagi’s leading of the Sivi Tau.
Games with a potential interest for the Falcons coming up include, Argentina v Georgia on Sept 25th, Italy v Canada and South Africa v Samoa on Sept 26th while Scotland v USA offers another potential head to head on Sept 27th.
All 2015 Rugby World Cup games will be shown in the Kingston Park Stadium Tap & Tackle bar while Saturday’s trio of matches will also be shown on the big screen in the city centre Fanzone.
