Steve Diamond Aims to Break Newcastle's 21-Year Trophy Drought in Premiership Rugby Cup

Steve Diamond, the consultant director of rugby for Newcastle Falcons, is determined to bring silverware back to the club after a 21-year drought. The Falcons are set to face Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup knockout stages, with all matches to be played at Kingston Park, including the final if they advance.

Diamond, who has previously led Sale and Worcester to glory in this competition, emphasized the importance of winning. "We don't want to get to a quarter-final and bow out or a semi-final and bow out," he told BBC Sport. "We want to try and win it and this is something we stand a chance of winning."

Newcastle's last trophy came in 2004 when they defeated Sale Sharks 37-33 at Twickenham in the Powergen Cup. Since then, the club has struggled to add to their trophy cabinet, making this season's campaign in the Premiership Rugby Cup all the more significant.

The Falcons have had a challenging season in the league, sitting at the bottom with just two wins from 11 games. However, Diamond has focused on a strong showing in the cup, especially with fewer players absent due to international duties compared to other clubs.

Captain Callum Chick played a pivotal role in motivating the team by presenting '21', a reminder of the years since their last trophy. The presentation included photos from their 2004 victory, featuring current defense coach Micky Ward, who was part of that winning team.

Diamond is instilling a knockout mentality in his players, emphasizing the importance of defensive strength and seizing scoring opportunities. "It's all about winning now," he said. "We need to be defensively good and when we get the chance to take points, we have to take them." The team relies on Brett Connon, a reliable goal-kicker with an 82-83% success rate in the Premiership, to build scores.

If Newcastle defeats Gloucester in the quarter-finals, they will host either Bath or Harlequins in the semi-finals. Diamond's strategic focus and the team's determination could finally end their long wait for silverware.