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Newcastle confirm Mateo Carreras exit
By Josh Raisey
Newcastle Falcons have confirmed that Argentina winger Mateo Carreras will leave the club at the end of the season, ending weeks of speculation.
While the Gallagher Premiership outfit have not confirmed the 23-year-old's next destination, France's Bayonne have confirmed his arrival next season having been heavily linked with a move to to the Top 14 club.
Carreras has been at Kingston Park since 2021, but the Falcons were always going to struggle to keep hold of him after an eye-catching World Cup, which saw him score a hat-trick in Argentina's crunch pool stage fixture against Japan.
Looking back at his time in Newcastle, Carreras said: “I want to thank Newcastle Falcons and the club’s supporters for welcoming me to North East England and making my stay here so enjoyable.
“Newcastle has been my home for three years and I will really miss the place and the people when I move on in the summer.
“The Falcons have played a massive part in my rugby journey and I’m looking forward to giving my all during the time I have left here.
“My only focus is on being the best player and team-mate I can be between now and the end of this season, and I really appreciate the backing from all our supporters.”
Head coach Alex Codling said: “Mateo is an outstanding talent who has naturally attracted significant interest on the back of his performances for Newcastle and Argentina.
“He arrived here as a talented young man who had played hardly any professional 15-a-side rugby, and he will leave as one of the best wingers in the world.
“That is due to his own ability and hard work as well as the guidance and support he has received at the club, and we will wish him well when he departs in the summer.
“We are naturally disappointed to be losing such a fantastic player and we will always do our best to retain our top talent, but Mateo has been professional and transparent throughout the entire process.
“He still has a massive role to play for the Falcons between now and the end of the season, and I know he will approach it with his usual diligence and positivity.”
Carreras will hope to end on a high in Newcastle and arrest their poor start to the season where they sit at the bottom of the league having lost their opening five matches.
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Latest Comments
Let’s blame a Chief instead ! 😀
Cane didn’t start in Yokohama but 5 Crusader forwards did and got their tails kicked by the John Mitchell coached England forwards. Well done Hansen!
Go to commentsI don’t really share Johnson’s opinion. Nothing better than Tupaea and Lienert-Brown in NZ? It’s a good duo, and he wouldn’t look out of place, but I think we can do better. Tavatavanawai seems superior to Tupaea at 12. He’s a brute force, who makes few mistakes (which can still be criticized in Tupaea), formidable both with and without the ball in close contact. I can see him playing with Proctor. On paper, this combination would be very, very interesting, in the same philosophy as the iconic Nonu/C Smith duo.
Anyway, I remain convinced that in Razor’s mind, Jordie Barrett is indispensable at center, and he could quickly team up with Leicester Fainga’anuku. I’m betting on that in the near future.
However, a Tavatanawai/Proctor duo would be very interesting. Ennor also seems to be a good option instead of Proctor, who still hasn’t played this season. But Ennor has only played one match... he needs to be seen again and get some game time. There is a lot of talent in New Zealand in these two positions. The hardest part will be cutting players who could make a difference for many teams. The choices are going to be tough. If I had to make a bold bet, and unlike Johnson, I don’t see Tupaea being selected, and I imagine ALB could be in a tight spot against Proctor and Ennor if they are fit.
I imagine Jordie, Havili, Rieko, and Fainga'anuku with Tavatavanawai. Ennor or Proctor if Fainga'anuku is not selected in July. And ALB if Jordie is rested
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