Teams Named For Legends Clash
Launching a full week of high profile rugby in the city, the Legends game has been over 18 months in the planning, with some of the great and the good in the sport playing to raise funds for the Wooden Spoon Foundation and the Falcons Community Foundation.
For the Falcons Legends 81 times capped Matt Burke, quicksilver winger Michael Stephenson and scorer of 14 tries Jim Naylor form the back three with erstwhile fullback Pete Massey and former England international Jamie Noon taking up the centre berths.
Tom May returns to the Fly Half berth he occupied with great panache in the 2008/2009 season while Scotland great Gary Armstrong takes the scrum half shirt.
A front row of Wallsend’s own Micky Ward, Scottish international Steve Brotherstone and England capped Robbie Morris, pack down with second row legends Gareth Archer and Doddie Weir and a back row of Powergen Cup winning captain Hugh Vyvyan, Kiwi openside flanker Cory Harris and Heineken Cup finalist Ben Woods.
The glittering names continue on the bench with Ian Peel, Stuart Grimes, Jason Oakes, Andy Perry, Andrew Mower, Peter Walton, Jim Jenner, Hall Charlton, Anth Elliott and a certain Rob Andrew all ready to enter the fray.
For the Southern Hemisphere side, the names are no less impressive, with Thinius Delport, Stefan Terblanche and Mike Umaga in the back three with Andre Snyman and Terry Fanolua in the centres.
Fanolua’s former Gloucester team mate and England international Henry Paul starts at Fly Half while former Falcon James Grindal takes a sojurn past the equator for the evening at Scrum Half.
Fellow former Falcons James Isaacson and Marius Hurter pack down as props with Kati Tuiplotu taking the hookers shirt.
Carlo del Fava and Opeta Palepoi lock down in the second row while Junior Paramore, Apolosi Satala and Alfie To’oala completing the pack in the back row.
The Southern Hemisphere bench takes on a Barbarians feel with Gavin Kerr, Craig Hamilton, James Ponton, Tim Fourie, Lome Fa’atau, Dan Scarborough, Spencer Davey,
David Richardson and Peter Beardsely all set to play their part in an entertaining evening.
Tickets for the game are still on sale and start from £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. To book your space at an evening not to be missed call 0871 2266060.
**Newcastle Falcons Legends**
15 Matt Burke 14 Michael Stephenson 13 Pete Massey 12 Jamie Noon 11 Jim Naylor 10 Tom May 9 Gary Armstrong;
1 Micky Ward 2 Steve Brotherstone 3 Robbie Morris 4 Garath Archer 5 Doddie Weir 6 Hugh Vyvyan 7 Cory Harris 8 Ben Woods
Replacements: 16 Ian Peel 17 Stuart Grimes 18 Jason Oakes 19 Andy Perry 20 Andrew Mower 21 Peter Walton 22 Jim Jenner 23 Hall Charlton 24 Anth Elliott 25 Rob Andrew
**Southern Hemisphere Legends**
15 Thinius Delport 14 Stefan Treblanche 13 Andre Snyman 12 Terry Fanolua 11 Mike Umaga 10 Henry Paul 9 James Grindal;
1 James Isaacson 2 Kati Tuipolotu 3 Marius Hurter 4 Carlo Del Fava 5 Opeta Palepoi 6 Junior Paramore 7 Apolosi Satala 8 Alfie To’oala
16 Gavin Kerr 17 Craig Hamilton 18 James Ponton 19 Tim Fourie 20 Lome Fa’atau 21 Dan Scarborough 22 Spencer Davey 23 David Richardson 24 Peter Beardsley
