Sam Graham to join Newcastle Red Bulls

Sam Graham will add ballast and physicality to Newcastle Red Bulls’ back row, with the Northampton forward arriving in the summer on a two-year deal.

The 28-year-old was a key part of the Saints side which won the Gallagher PREM title in 2024, and joins Newcastle after four years with Northampton.

Making 20 starts for the club during their title-winning campaign, Graham was a late entrant into the top-flight game, having also shone for Doncaster Knights and Hartpury in the Championship.

Delighted to be heading to Kingston Park at the end of the current campaign, the West Country native began his rugby journey with Chippenham RFC, going on to feature for Bristol Bears in a varied career which has also seen him working as a professional chef.

Graham said: “I’ve played up at Kingston Park a number of times throughout in my career and have always had a lot of respect for the guys there, and the way the supporters get behind their team.

“The place looks like it’s buzzing on a match day with everything surrounding Red Bull’s takeover, and I experienced it myself when Saints went up there earlier in the season.

“They’ve been getting sell-out crowds in the league on a consistent basis, and they’re really going places with the way they’re starting to build.

“As a player it’s massively exciting to be a part of that once my time at Northampton comes to an end, and I’m looking forward to throwing everything into it when I get up to Newcastle in the summer.”

Newcastle Red Bulls’ sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: “Sam has worked extremely hard to forge a career in English rugby’s top flight, to his immense credit.

“He is a very consistent performer who makes big impacts on games, and he will get us on the front foot with his ball carrying, set-piece work and link play.

“It’s an exciting period for the club as we put in place the building blocks for what we are confident will be a very successful future, and Sam promises to be a big part of that.”