London Irish half-back becomes the 10th 2023/24 Newcastle signing

New coach Alex Codling’s recruitment drive at Newcastle has taken another step, the Falcons confirming on Tuesday that they have signed London Irish scrum-half Hugh O’Sullivan. It was May 6, the day when the Exiles wrapped up their 2022/23 campaign with a Gallagher Premiership home win over Exeter, that the half-back was named as one of the 12 end-of-season leavers from the London club.

Those staying on at Irish are facing a May 30 deadline for the club to show to the RFU that they have sufficient funds to compete in next season’s top flight. In the meantime, O’Sullivan has quickly landed on his feet with a deal to continue on elsewhere in the Premiership.

A statement read: “London Irish scrum-half Hugh O’Sullivan has become Newcastle Falcons’ 10th senior signing as the club continues to build for the 2023/24 season and beyond. The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal to join the Falcons, who will welcome a new head coach when Alex Codling arrives next month from Oyonnax following France’s Pro D2 promotion final.

“O’Sullivan made 20 appearances in his two years with the Exiles, starting and scoring a try in March’s impressive home win over Gallagher Premiership finalists Sale Sharks before going on to earn another start a fortnight later when they defeated semi-finalists Northampton Saints.

“Scoring a further two tries for London Irish in cup action, his Leinster exploits included Heineken Champions Cup outings against Exeter, Toulouse and Wasps as well as a further 34 appearances in the URC and Rainbow Cup. A double Leinster Schools Cup winner with Belvedere College, he came through the famed Leinster academy and has earned international recognition with Ireland U20s.”

Interim Newcastle head coach Mark Laycock said: “We are excited to welcome Hugh into our squad. He has a really strong pass, a good rugby brain and is used to playing high-tempo rugby from his time with Leinster and London Irish, so will be a welcome addition for how we want to play next season.”

O’Sullivan added: “I played at Kingston Park back in March when London Irish won up there, and the chance to stay in the Gallagher Premiership was a big thing for me. I have really fallen in love with the league and compared with the URC, it just feels like there is a lot more jeopardy with anybody being able to beat anybody week to week. Every game feels like it’s a big one, and in terms of Newcastle in particular, it just feels like a good time to join.

“The club has got a really proud history – I saw their social media post the other day about being the first club to win the Premiership title 25 years ago when they had just been promoted – and there are loads of legendary players you would associate with the Falcons over the years.

“I have watched Newcastle over the past couple of seasons and there’s massive potential there. Everyone understandably goes on about the incredible wingers like (Adam) Radwan and (Mateo) Carreras, but there is talent right throughout the squad if we can start moving the ball around and playing a bit of rugby.

“I know the new head coach Alex Codling from when he coached my Ireland U18s team, and it is an exciting time to be working with a guy like him. There is obviously a lot of change with a number of new signings coming in, and it’s time for the club to turn a page and move forward by trying some new things.

“Having come through the Leinster academy and been coached by Stuart Lancaster there has been a huge emphasis on playing a quick style of rugby, and London Irish have been very much in the same mould. I had been looking to try and bring that kind of tempo to the game, playing at pace, and having had some more regular Premiership game time with London Irish towards the end of the season I believe my control of the game has also been developed quite a bit.”

• Newcastle’s 2023/24 signings other than O’Sullivan: Josh Bainbridge (Coventry), Louis Brown (Coventry), Bryan Byrne (Bristol Bears), Tim Cardall (Melbourne Rebels), Cameron Hutchison (Edinburgh), John Kelly (Doncaster Knights), Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter Chiefs), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh) and Kiran McDonald (ex-Munster);
• A further five players have also signed for the Falcons’ senior academy, with Newcastle University lock Adam Scott joining England U18s quartet Finn Baker, Isaac Keller, Jacob Oliver and Ben Redshaw.