Bates set for recruitment drive

Steve Bates has been promised the “resources he needs” after securing a three-year contract as Newcastle rugby director.

Steve Bates has been promised the “resources he needs” after securing a three-year contract as Newcastle's director of rugby.

Former England scrum-half Bates took the post in an acting capacity following John Fletcher's departure from Kingston Park in March.

Although Newcastle subsequently finished 11th in the Guinness Premiership, they reached the European Challenge Cup semi-finals and recorded a notable late-season win by beating Premiership finalists Leicester.

Fletcher left during this season's Six Nations Championship, a parting of the ways that did not go down well with some of Newcastle's senior contingent, notably England centre Toby Flood.

Flood and his England colleague Mathew Tait will head for pastures new this summer, with Tait joining Sale Sharks and Flood set for a move to Leicester.

The fact Newcastle could have lost four of their first-choice back division to England for chunks of next season – Flood, Tait, Jamie Noon and Jonny Wilkinson – was a major factor behind the decision to let Flood and Tait leave.

Falcons chairman Dave Thompson revealed Bates' experience had been vital in him landing the job on a permanent basis.

“A decision like this is always a big one, and during the two months Steve has been in the interim role we have looked at all the options before deciding on his permanent appointment,” said Thompson.

“We have considered applicants from all around the world, talked to people about it and in the end decided that Steve's experience and know-how made him the prime candidate for the position.

“He will be given the resources he needs to recruit, both on the playing and coaching front.

“Steve inherited a team in very difficult circumstances, and with the season effectively over with no danger of relegation or making the play-offs, he took the opportunity to look at implementing some pretty fundamental tactical changes.

“That is never an easy thing to do, especially in the middle of a season, but in the victory over Leicester we saw the players really adhere to the game plan that was being asked of them.

“With a full summer to work on that, and some more quality additions to the playing and coaching group, we believe we are putting things in place to achieve our aim next season, which is qualifying for the Heineken Cup.”

A defence coach and forwards' specialist are set to join Bates' coaching staff, while player recruitment is also at an advanced stage for next term.

Bates is currently in his second spell with the Falcons.

He was part of Rob Andrew's coaching team when Newcastle won the Premiership title in 1998 and lifted the Tetley's Bitter Cup three years later.

Bates also spent three years with now-defunct Scottish side Border Reivers, achieving Heineken Cup qualification during his time with them, and he will coach the England Saxons in next month's Barclays Churchill Cup competition.

“Having met with the players, both collectively and individually over the past fortnight, they are all buying into what we are trying to achieve here looking forward,” he said.

“We are talking to people at the moment on the playing and coaching side who will add a huge amount of expertise to what we already have in place.

“They will bring a lot of experience to the club and I am very excited about their arrivals, which we hope to announce in the coming weeks.

“What is clear to me is that we need to strengthen the coaching group to really get the best out of the playing talent this club possesses.

“We need somebody who will look at defence in a very specialist way.

“We are one of the only clubs in the Premiership which does not have a person in that capacity, and I think that has shown this season when we have leaked tries and put ourselves under a lot of pressure.

“The other position in which we need support is our forward game, primarily the line-out, and those are both roles we are actively in the process of filling at the moment.

“We have allowed two young international backs to leave for strategic reasons which we have already discussed at length, but having said that, we cannot simply afford to lose two quality players and not replace them,” Bates added.

“We will certainly look to recruit in that area – we are very close to finalising one key signing at the moment – and then we will also look to strengthen a little bit in what I believe is an already strong pack.”