Newcastle Falcons are reportedly lining up a sensational move for All Blacks scrum-half Finlay Christie, as Steve Diamond prepares to unleash a major recruitment drive ahead of the new Gallagher Premiership season.
According to RugbyPass, Christie is being targeted as the first of potentially a dozen new arrivals at Kingston Park, as the club gears up for a dramatic overhaul — with Red Bull’s rebrand of the Falcons set to kick in next year.
🔥 Who is Finlay Christie?
Full name: Finlay Turner Christie, born 19 September 1995 in Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Roots: From the Borders region, raised in Peebles (and briefly Aberdeen) before his family emigrated to New Zealand at age seven, settling in Pukekohe, south of Auckland
Dual athlete: A talented gymnast in his youth, representing New Zealand before switching full‑time to rugby when he headed to Canterbury University and won the coveted Hawkins Medal as top club player in 2016
Club pathway: Broke in with Tasman in the NPC from 2016 on, starring in both their 2019 and 2020 Mitre 10/NPC Premiership wins. Super Rugby stints followed — Chiefs in 2017, Hurricanes in 2018‑19, then a move to his childhood region with the Blues in 2020
Blues hero: Became first‑choice halfback in 2021 and played a central role in Blues’ Trans‑Tasman title, later helping them end a 21‑year drought more recently in 2024 (when he came back from injury to deliver in the Grand Final)
International rise: Made his All Blacks debut as All Black No. 1196 off the bench vs Tonga in July 2021. Since then he’s earned at least 23 caps and featured from the bench in both the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi‑final and final – becoming the first Scottish‑born player to appear in a men’s RWC final
Christie is lauded for his lightning‑fast service from the base, defensive grit and core composure — not flashy athleticism, he admits, but “hard work” and “getting his core roles right” that set him apart.
If Newcastle do seal this deal, it won’t just be a throwback to Christie’s Scottish roots — it’d be a statement of serious ambition by a Falcons side that’s crying out for reinforcement following a relegation battle last season.
So far, the only confirmed signing is centre Ethan Grayson from Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion, but that looks set to be just the start. Steve Diamond clearly means business.
Watch this space — big moves are brewing in the North East.
The Dream Team? 5 More Stars Red Bull Could Bring to Newcastle
With fresh cash and bold ambitions, here are five blockbuster names that Red Bull could target to launch their rugby revolution:
🥇 #1. Liam Williams
One of Wales’ most explosive players over the past decade, Liam Williams is a British & Irish Lion, a Grand Slam winner, and a former Champions Cup finalist with Saracens.
Now a free agent after his latest spell in Japan, the 33-year-old brings elite experience, attacking flair, and a fierce competitive edge. A big-money move back to the Premiership could be tempting—and he’s exactly the kind of box-office name the Falcons need to lift their profile.
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