Newcastle Falcons host Sale Sharks in Round 12 of the Gallagher Premiership.

The Derby Weekend fixture kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday March 21.

Check out all the key statistics ahead of the tie which will be shown live on TNT Sports Red Button and Discovery +.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Newcastle Falcons have won three of their last five first team fixtures, although all those games were in the Premiership Rugby Cup. 

In Gallagher Premiership Rugby the Falcons two victories so far this year were both at home, to Exeter in Round 5 and to Saracens in Round 7.

Ethan Grayson has a 90% success rate when kicking at goal, the second-best performance from anyone with at least ten attempts.

Nobody has completed more tackles than Tom Gordon: he has made 158 so far this season.

Callum Chick has made seven turnovers during tackles, the highest number in the league.

Tom Gordon

SALE SHARKS

Sale Sharks have lost their last two Premiership Rugby fixtures since beating Bristol 38-0 at Ashton Gate on 27 December, their only away win in the tournament this season.

The Sharks have won their last four matches against the Falcons in Premiership Rugby since Newcastle’s 20-14 win at Kingston Park in December 2022.

Joe Carpenter beat eight defenders in round 11, the joint highest. He has beaten 38 defenders this season, the third-most in the league.

Luke Cowan-Dickie has a lineout success rate of 95% from 121 throws – the best rate in the league.

Ernst Van Rhyn has made 15 dominant tackles this season – the second-highest total so far this season.

Ernst Van Rhyn