Red Bull gives Newcastle Falcons wings with acquisition deal

Gallagher Prem club Newcastle Falcons have been taken over by energy drinks giant Red Bull in a deal that sees the company acquire Newcastle Rugby Ltd.

The club will be rebranded as Newcastle Red Bulls from the 2025/26 season, with the deal marking the Austrian company’s first move into rugby union.

It adds the sport to a significant global portfolio that includes teams in Formula 1, football, and ice hockey.

The acquisition secures the long-term future for the Kingston Park club, who have finished bottom of the Premiership for the last three seasons and were put up for sale by former owners Semore Kurdi and Dave Thompson late last year.

Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, Red Bull, said the aim was to “empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.”

Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO of Prem Rugby, said, “Red Bull’s takeover of Newcastle is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful endorsement of our vision and strategy for the future of the Gallagher PREM.

“We are hugely excited by Red Bull’s ambition for the club, which includes developing the player pathway in the North East and growing the club’s fanbase. Their track record in global sport, from high-performance expertise to world-class marketing, will bring enormous value not only to Newcastle but to the Gallagher PREM as a whole.”

Bill Sweeney, Chief Executive, Rugby Football Union, added, “Having a Gallagher Prem club in the north of England is critical to rugby in the region both for preserving a rugby fanbase and its role in talent development and community outreach. We look forward to Newcastle Red Bulls going from strength-to-strength next season.”

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