Falcons Prepare For Rugby World Cup Kick Off
When the Rugby World Cup starts later this week, Newcastle Falcons will have representation in six of the twenty teams taking part.
Tonga, Samoa, Italy, Argentina, Scotland and the USA all have Falcons players within their squads for the competition, equalling nine players in total.
Tonga captain Nili Latu is one of the Falcons newest signings, and will compete in the Rugby World Cup before arriving at Kingston Park Stadium for the start of the season.
Meanwhile countryman Tane Takulua will also represent Tonga after impressing at Scrum Half during the Pacific Nations Cup, with both players hoping to feature during their country’s opening match of the tournament against Georgia this Saturday at midday.
Fellow Pacific nation Samoa also have two Falcons in their squad, with PNC captain Alesana Tuilagi joined by Lock Kane Thompson for the tournament, which begins for them at midday on Sunday.
Their opponents for that match also have a Falcon within their starting line up, Eric Fry one of the stalwarts of the USA national side.
Also in pool B alongside Samoa and USA are Scotland, a squad which includes Fry’s soon-to-be Falcons front row team mate Jon Welsh. The pair are likely to face one another on Sunday 27 September at Elland Road.
Scotland will then face Samoa on Saturday 10th October in one of three games to be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
Another Rugby World Cup team including not one but two Falcons players is Italy. Playing in Pool D of the competition, the Azzurri will kick off their tournament at 8pm this Saturday when they face fellow 6 Nations side France at Twickenham, a game in which both Josh Furno and new signing Giovanbattista Venditti will be hoping to feature.
Finally in Pool C of the tournament World Champions New Zealand will open their title defence campaign against Argentina at Wembley Stadium this Sunday, a match in which the Falcons’ own Juan Pablo Socino will be hoping to feature. The club website caught up with Socino last week about his time with Argentina so far, click [here][1] for the full interview.
[1]: http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/excitement-building-for-socino-ahead-of-rugby-world-cup
