The Newcastle Red Bulls signing is imminent after a difficult first year

For a time in January, the Daily Newcastle was. Every morning will see a new player announced for the 2026-27 season as the club looks to bolster its ranks.

Every position from one to 15 has been addressed and 23 players have been signed in total, enough to cover a matchday squad, with Sale Sharks and England scrum-half Raffy Quirke likely to be the headline arrival.

But to make up for that, 26 players are leaving after the final in Gloucester on June 6, while two have retired during the campaign, meaning there will be a huge churn at Kingston Park this summer.

It will be a big challenge for McFarland and his staff to bring together so many new faces, galvanize a team off the field and bridge a gap with clubs that have largely fixed squads and ways of playing.

Back: Benjamin Elizalde (Bristol Bears), Joji Nasova (Fijian Drua), Josh Hodge, Will Rigg (Exeter Chiefs), Chris Harris (Bath), Brandon Jackson (Saracens), Fahey Finanganofo (Wellington Hurricanes), Jack Henry (Stade Francais), Rafi Quirke (Aksen).

Forward: Powrie Rakete-Stones (Wellington Hurricanes), George Turner (Harlequins), Elliott Miller-Mills, Tom West, Sam Graham (Northampton Saints), James Harper (Sale), Samson Adeyemi (Saracens), Max Hicks (Perpignan), Cam Jordan (Gloucester), Franco Molinan (Fransima West), Sam Graham (Northampton Saints), Ferry (Coventry), Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland Blues)