Launching into the new campaign of the back of their highest placed finish in the Gallagher Premiership for 20 years, the club will also be playing European rugby at the game's top table after qualifying for the Heineken Champions Cup.
The Falcons last graced the competition back in the 2004/2005 season when they made the quarter finals for the first time ever after doing the double and beating Newport Gwent Dragons and Edinburgh Rugby along with a memorable home win over the then French powerhouse of Perpignan.
Having been drawn against Edinburgh again in Pool 5 alongside Montpellier and Toulon the three home games in the pool stages at Kingston Park will ensure fans can see the North East club’s stars test themselves against yet more of the best players in world rugby.
And in a season where the showpiece final of the competition along with the European Rugby Challenge Cup will be held in Newcastle at St James’ Park, there is added incentive for the region to support the Falcons in these crunch games.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards, a two-time Champions Cup winner during his time in charge of Leicester Tigers, said: “It’s exciting for us to be back in the competition and we always knew we would be facing tough opponents.
“All six group games will provide fierce opposition, but we are relishing the opportunity and looking forward to testing ourselves in Europe’s top level tournament.”
The campaign gets underway on Sunday October 14 when Newcastle tackle Toulon at Stade Felix Mayol in a 3.15pm UK-time kick-off, with all six of the Falcons’ group games being shown live in the UK on BT Sport.
Montpellier are the first Heineken Champions Cup visitors to Kingston Park Stadium on Sunday October 21 in a 1pm kick-off, before Newcastle face back-to-back clashes with Edinburgh during the middle two rounds.
The first of those takes place at BT Murrayfield on Friday December 7 (7.45pm), followed nine days later when the Scottish side visits Kingston Park on Sunday December 16 (3.15pm).
A second trip to France comes in round five when the Falcons visit Montpellier on Saturday January 12 in a 1pm UK-time kick-off, the pool campaign culminating on Friday January 18 when Toulon visit Kingston Park Stadium (7.45pm).
For fans in the region wanting to witness Falcons in Heineken Champions Cup action live, the club have also introduced a special three-game bundle which allows fans to secure a ticket for all of these mouth-watering ties with prices starting from just £45 for adults.
Award winning hospitality packages are also available to purchase as a three-match bundle, with the Fifteen @ the Falcons package offering a superb fine dining experience available at £375 + VAT per person while the 100 Club package with chefs grazing table is available at £297 + VAT per person. For hospitality bundle packages, email our Commercial team corporatesales@ newcastle-falcons.co.uk
