Head coach Dickens to leave Newcastle at end of season

Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Dickens has been in charge as interim head coach at Kingston Park since October, having replaced Steve Diamond.

The news comes after weeks of speculation around the 50-year-old's future, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend strongly linked to the position after the 2027 World Cup.

Dickens, who originally joined Newcastle in 2024 as attack and defence coach, has won five of 17 games since taking over. The Red Bulls sit bottom of The Prem with one win in 10 games.

The former Leicester assistant coach confirmed the news to TNT Sports before his side's Prem Rugby Cup clash against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

"I am not there next season, but I wish the club well with whoever comes in and I sincerely mean that," he said.

"I want to be professional. There is a job to finish here.

"It was an honour to be asked to be the interim head coach of Newcastle Red Bulls. I have enjoyed the people, I have enjoyed the place and I wish them well in the future.

"In terms of the players, I want the best for those who are staying and moving on. I want them to find jobs in the country or wherever so they can continue their professional careers."

He would not, however, be drawn on rumours relating to Townsend.

"That is news to me," said Dickens. "I am sure he covered that off in his press conference this week.

"The job he has is a consultant to Red Bull, and that is what he does."

Addressing the reports about his own future in the week, Townsend said that he saw the stories simply as a "disruption" ahead of the start of his side's 2026 Six Nations campaign against Italy.

"It is pure speculation, I have not signed a contract beyond the World Cup with anyone," he said.

"I think that is something that has been put out there to try and disrupt ahead of this and next week's game [with England]."