Welch Ready For Season Opener
After what has felt like the longest pre-season in history Newcastle Falcons captain Will Welch says his team are raring to go ahead of Friday’s Aviva Premiership kick off.
“It’s been long but enjoyable. The coaches have looked after us pretty well so the boys are pretty refreshed and feeing good so they’re looking forward to starting.”
The Falcons head into 2015/16 after a summer that has seen no fewer than eleven names added to the team sheet.
“We’re building year on year and now the quality and experience we’ve got is probably the best we’ve had in quite a few years, which is good. The new signings we’ve made are all quality players and they’re all experienced, and that’s what you want really.”
However Newcastle-born Welch also knows the importance of bringing young, local talent into the side and recognises that successful teams are those which combine youth and experience.
“One of the strengths we’ve got this year is that we’ve got a good balance. There are a lot of good young players coming through this year who you saw last year, but with that we’ve made some experienced signings, and it’s that balance that should lead to a successful year.”
Now entering his fourth season as captain after taking over the armband at the start of the Falcons’ Championship-winning season in 2012, fans have seen Welch grow and develop into the role.
“I was in the deep end a little bit when I first started but the more experience you get the easier it becomes, and it helps having a lot of senior boys around as well that I can look to. I’m enjoying the role and hopefully we can have a more of a successful season this year too.
Despite a number of agonisingly close defeats, 2014/15 saw the Falcons develop a new attacking brand of rugby brand of rugby which was high on excitement and points, the 25 year old Flanker explains:
“We’ve taken strides year on year. Although last year we finished in the same position before, in terms of performance it was there so you can take those as positives. This year it’s about getting results and making sure we start looking up that table; if we do that, have that confidence and keep playing the way that we are there’s no reason that we can’t be looking at that top half this year; hopefully we’re on the edge of something big.”
For Welch, another key factor for the Falcons this season is the continued support of the Kingston Park Stadium faithful.
“The fans make a massive difference. When you’re running out to a full, noisy crowd it gives you that bit extra and buzzes you up a bit more. Sometimes when you’re in the game it can be a little bit hard to hear them but because the stadium is pretty enclosed when you hear them you can really hear them and it makes a massive difference.
“There’s a core group of fans who’ve been coming here since I was really young and they love it really, and love Newcastle just as much as the players, which is briliant. But it’s great to see crowds growing too, and to start the season with a big crowd would give us a good helping hand.
“Friday is an important game and is important we start well this year. We need to start picking up some results and some confidence to get that winning mentality, and there’s no better way really than at home on a Friday night against a good Gloucester side.”
Newcastle Falcons face Gloucester Rugby this Friday at Kingston Park Stadium (ko 8pm) in the first game of the Aviva Premiership season. The full interview with Will Welch can be found in the match day programme for that game which will be available throughout the ground priced at just £3.
Tickets for Friday’s game are available to buy now [online][1], in person from the Kingston Park Stadium Ticket Office or by calling the Falcons’ 24 hour Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 starting from £15 for adults and £7.50 for juniors.
[1]: http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/Pages/Tickets/match-day-tickets
