Falcons swoop for Sharks flanker Cameron Neild

Newcastle Falcons have swiftly replaced outgoing flanker Guy Pepper with Sale Sharks' Cameron Neild.

Just hours after Newcastle announced Pepper's move to Bath at the end of the season, the Gallagher Premiership strugglers have revealed that Neild will take his place in the back row on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old's move to Kingston Park will see him team up with Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond again having worked with him at Edinburgh, Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks.

The former England U20 flanker joined Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors in 2023, before securing a short-term move for his second stint at Sale in February. But he will be relocating again at the end of the season.

After signing, Neild said: “I’ve played against Newcastle a number of times, but one that always sticks in my mind was back in 2016 on the final day of the season when I went up to Kingston Park with Sale Sharks.

“We needed to win to get into the top six and qualify for the Champions Cup, which we narrowly did, but Nili Latu scored a hat-trick for Newcastle and they really took it to us upfront.

“It was one of those days where you think ‘wow, that was a proper game’, and I always associate Newcastle with that kind of bruising performance where they’re really dogged and niggly.

“It was a fond memory for me because Sale got the result and qualified for the Champions Cup, but I’ve always had a respect for the confrontational side of the game that Newcastle have. I’m sure with Dimes in charge they’ll be playing on that in a pretty big way, and I’m looking forward to getting involved up there.”

Diamond added: "Cam is a very good Premiership operator who has played over a century of games in the competition.

"I've had him at quite a few clubs now so he is obviously a player I rate very highly, and he's been unfortunate with some of the players he's been behind during that time.

"At Sale he had the Curry brothers and at Edinburgh and Glasgow he was vying with established internationals, but he's always given a great account of himself whenever he's been called upon.

"He brings a wealth of experience and he fits the mould of the players we're trying to bring in at the moment. He has that hard edge about him, he's not past his sell-by date and he's got that real work ethic which is a great fit as we look to move this Newcastle Falcons squad forward."