Newcastle Red Bulls make statement head coach signing

McFarland joins from Japanese title challengers Kobelco Steelers. MacRae, meanwhile, will return to Kingston Park as defence coach once he completes his current season with Italian side Benetton.

Stephen Jones (attack coach), Micky Ward (scrum coach) and Lee Dickson (skills and transition coach) will all stay in their roles. Mark Laycock will step into a dual position as coaching co-ordinator and transition coach.

The Red Bulls’ senior coaching group will bring a wealth of top-level experience, with Ward, Laycock and Dickson also providing continuity and strong local ties.

Looking ahead to the role, McFarland said: “I’m very honoured to be joining Newcastle Red Bulls.

“The club and wider region has a fantastic rugby tradition which I am very respectful of, and keen to learn more about.

“I’m looking forward to working with all the players and support staff, and being heavily involved in one of the most exciting projects in world rugby at the moment.

“Newcastle Red Bulls are a club intent on success. The possibilities for the club are huge, but nothing happens in sport without hard work and quality processes being put in place.

“The excellent work done on recruitment has meant that there will be lots of new talent arriving in the North East to join the team, and after a great experience out in Japan over the past couple of years I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this exciting new challenge.”

McFarland’s Kobelco Steelers side are currently competing strongly in Japan’s Top League following an impressive start to the season, highlighting the incoming head coach’s credentials.

As a player, the former prop represented Richmond, Stade Francais and Connacht before moving into coaching with Connacht. His decade-long stint there also included roles with Ireland Under-20s, Emerging Ireland and Ireland A.

Born in Oxfordshire and a former Newcastle University student, McFarland later spent four years in Scotland, first with Glasgow Warriors and then with the national team as an assistant coach.

From 2018 to 2024, he served as Ulster’s head coach, guiding the team to multiple appearances in the knockout stages of both the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship before moving to Japan in 2024.

He will lead a coaching group that includes Calum MacRae, who returns to the club after previously working as skills and attack coach from 2011 to 2014.

The former Scotland A and Sevens international went on to spend five years with Edinburgh’s coaching staff, helping the side reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals. He later joined Benetton, initially as defence coach before becoming head coach.

During his time in Italy, Benetton reached the Champions Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history. Earlier in his career, MacRae also coached Scotland Sevens from 2014 to 2017, winning the London leg of the World Sevens Series twice.

MacRae said: “I'm delighted to be coming back to the club where it all started for me as a coach, and at the start of an exciting new chapter with Red Bull.

“After my time in the URC with Edinburgh and Benetton Rugby it feels a great point to be coming back to the Gallagher PREM.

“The club's vision and ambition to compete at the top of the PREM and Europe is clear. I'm highly motivated to contribute to those objectives with a talented group of players and coaches.

“Having family in Newcastle and Teesside makes it even more special for me to be representing both them and the people of the North East again.”

Stephen Jones, a Wales and Lions great, will continue as attack coach after arriving earlier this season from Moana Pasifika.

Club appearance record-holder Micky Ward remains in charge of the scrum, while former England international Lee Dickson transitions into a full-time role overseeing skills and transition.

Mark Laycock will also contribute in a dual capacity as coaching co-ordinator and transition coach, supporting the club’s ongoing commitment to developing homegrown talent.

The new coaching team will oversee a revamped squad featuring several high-profile additions for next season, including Hoskins Sotutu, Raffi Quirke, Fehi Fineanganofo, Pouri Rakete-Stones, George Turner and Franco Molina.

Dan McFarland – Head coach
Stephen Jones – Attack coach
Calum MacRae – Defence coach
Micky Ward – Scrum coach
Lee Dickson – Skills and transition coach
Mark Laycock – Coaching co-ordinator and transition coach