Former England international David Wilson believes Dean Richards is building at dynasty at Newcastle Falcons this season that will see the club compete at Europe’s top-table once again.

Wilson, who has been capped 44 times for England, moved back to the North East in 2016 after a seven-year absence playing for Bath in the Premiership – and he has been impressed with the transformation.

The Falcons presently sit in fourth spot in the Aviva Premiership table, with 11 wins from their 17 games so far, this season and have realistic ambitions of securing a top-four play-off spot and with-it qualification to Europe’s premier competition.

Wilson, who has helped to propel the club forward alongside the likes of former England international Toby Flood and a host of home-grown youngsters, attributed the up-turn in form and fortunes to the impact of boss Richards.

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The club has made the North East a fortress this season and Wilson is determined to ensure the Falcons kick-on and end the campaign with a flurry before building on it again next term.    

“You can just see us starting to build a good environment – it’s all going in the right direction,” said Wilson, who was speaking on behalf of Land Rover, the Official Vehicle Partner of Premiership Rugby. This year, Land Rover is celebrating its Testimonial Season; ten seasons of supporting grassroots rugby in the UK through the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup

“It has been happening since Dean came, and we are trying to put good foundations into place.

“We’re still building, but we’re gathering good momentum now and have a really good team. They're improving the facilities all the time too.

“Even the coaches have improved massively. All these little bits of the jigsaw are really helping the team massively and that’s why we’ve improved.

“Obviously it’s a tough league, you can’t be expected to win all the time, but I think we’ve given ourselves a really good chance to succeed and play some good rugby.

“The top four is exactly what we need – it will give the boys a taste of championship rugby. Even if we finish fourth, we can still win it. It’s anyone’s competition and you could win the Premiership. We’re in there with a fighting chance.

“This is why you play rugby - you want to win silverware at home and want some special moments. Going down to Twickenham is special no matter what, going down there to represent Newcastle would be unbelievable.”

Wilson believes the player pool Newcastle can choose from in the North East, with the Falcons the only professional club in the area means they can have an advantage when it comes to uncovering the Premiership’s next superstar. 

Richards and Newcastle also have a reputation for giving youngsters their chance in the Premiership – and Wilson is convinced that attitude is turning the club into a series force in the Premiership. 

“Look, less people play it up here, it’s a Southern sport isn’t it, London and the likes and the South West - once you get past Manchester, it’s only really Falcons and maybe Yorkshire too and that’s why we can really thrive,” added Wilson, who alongside fellow Falcons were leading a coaching session on behalf of Land Rover at Northern RFC, the grassroots club that has won ten Land Rover Premiership Cups since its inauguration in 2008.

“But what it gave me, Toby and Joel Hodgson were an opportunity to play.

"We came up here to the Falcons - Newcastle known as a team who bring talent through and there’s some good schools round here where you can basically move into Newcastle Falcons.

“At the time, they were a bit short on the ground, we got our chances when we were young and it’s

helped us out. Sometimes you can go to clubs and you can be 26 or 27 before you get a chance like Bath or Leicester.

“I made my debut at 18, so did Toby and Joel or around that age so we learn quick and get thrown in at the deep end. We enjoy it and I wouldn’t change it for anything. 14 years now since I made my debut!”

Newcastle host Northampton Saints this weekend at St James’ Park in a fixture dubbed the ‘Big One’, with over 20,000 supporters expected at the game.

And Wilson is determined to ensure Newcastle’s winning form on home soil continues as they look to cement their place in the top four this season.

“When I played against Newcastle for Bath, it’s tough to come here,” said Wilson. “Nobody knows how to travel there on a Friday night!

“It’s wet, windy - you don’t know whether to stay the night before, nobody can work it out. So that’s a big advantage, the surface, once we get used to playing on it more gives us an advantage.

“So, everything’s in our favour at home but Newcastle is a place where people fear to play at because they can get turned over and we're always up for the fight anyway!

“I’d give anything to play there, playing in the A League game next day but I’d do anything for St James’ in front of 24,000 people, so it’ll be a great occasion for the boys, what they deserve.

“I just hope it goes well for them.

“Ultimately, it’s going to be a great occasion - lots of people to come along, love the rugby and hopefully we can get more along every week to get involved.”

Land Rover is the Official Vehicle Partner of Premiership Rugby. Land Rover is celebrating its Testimonial Season of supporting grassroots rugby in the UK through the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal