Newcastle Red Bulls vs Gloucester Prediction: Red Bulls can push Gloucester close

Newcastle Red Bulls have had little to cheer about in the Gallagher Prem this season but on Friday night (19:45, TNT Sports Extra) the hosts look capable of pushing poor travellers Gloucester all the way at Kingston Park.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Newcastle Red Bulls vs Gloucester prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for this encounter in the north east.

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Gloucester Odds

Newcastle are the 13/8 underdogs for Friday’s game, while Gloucester are the 1/2 favourites to head back to the West Country with the win. A draw at Kingston Park is 20/1.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Newcastle have gone with Murray McCallum, skipper George McGuigan and Richard Palframan in the front row.

Oscar Usher and Jamie Hodgson start as the lock pairing, with Tom Gordon, Tom Christie and Ollie Leatherbarrow in the back row.

Simón Benítez Cruz and Brett Connon start in the half-backs, with Sammy Arnold and Alex Hearle paired up in the centres.

Elliott Obatoyinbo, Christian Wade and Ethan Grayson complete the backline for the Red Bulls.

As for Gloucester, Val Rapava Ruskin, Will Crane and Afo Fasogbon start in the front row, with Freddie Thomas and Arthur Clark behind.

Deain Gwynne, Lewis Ludlow and Jack Clement complete the pack, while skipper Tomos Williams is joined by Ross Byrne in the half-backs.

Seb Atkinson and Will Knight get the nod in the centres, while Gloucester go with a back three of Ollie Thorley, Jack Cotgreave and Charlie Atkinson.

Newcastle Red Bulls +5 handicap @ 5/6

With no wins to speak of after the first eight rounds of the 2025/26 Gallagher Prem, new owners Red Bull are learning there will be no overnight fixes up at Newcastle.

Injuries have certainly not helped their cause but seeing Christian Wade back on the wing will give the home crowd some hope he can sprinkle a bit of magic to help the hosts keep this game a close one.

What will also give Newcastle encouragement in this opening game of 2026 is the fact Gloucester’s season has hardly gone much better than the Red Bulls’ campaign.

Winning one of their opening eight games and losing 10 of their last 13 away games in all competitions, there are reasons to believe Newcastle can at least add a losing bonus point to their solitary point earned in the Gallagher Prem so far this season.

Benítez Cruz and Connon will need good games in the Newcastle half-backs to make this a tight one but, with Wade capable of producing magic on the wing, the Red Bulls with a +5 handicap gets the green light at Kingston Park.

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