What does a corporate takeover of an English rugby union team look like?

As you walk towards Kingston Park stadium, the home of the club formerly known as Newcastle Falcons, the first sign is a line of Mini cars brashly decked out in the colours of Red Bull, each with a huge replica of the company’s blue-and-silver energy-drink can on its roof.

Okay, this is happening. “Newcastle Red Bulls”. Here we go.

Inside the stadium a bunch of students from Durham, Northumbria and Newcastle universities – there’s a strong rugby catchment area, just for starters – are getting their bearings for when they’ll be handing out hundreds of cans of the new owner’s product at Friday’s opening match of the season, against Harlequins.

A fridge in the “Tap & Tackle” bar in the East Stand stocked with Red Bul

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