Young Gun: Zach Kibirige – Newcastle winger

The Newcastle production line appears to have hit the buffers in recent years but with the Falcons ready to unleash flyer Zach Kibirige on the Premiership this season, all that is about to change.
Just 24 hours after finishing his A-Levels, Kibirige, 18, was starting pre-season with the Falcons – and this time on a full-time basis having spent last term juggling his studies with evening training.
Still, the speedster made an immediate impression for the Championship winners, bagging a try on his debut in the British & Irish Cup, adding a spectacular 80-metre effort in his second appearance against Rotherham and finishing the year with four scores from his three matches.
Add to that a starring role in guiding Yarm School to the Daily Mail RBS Vase with tries in the semi-final against Plymouth College and in the final against Felsted and it’s easy to see why Newcastle offered him a two-year deal in April.
The Falcons have a rich history of producing talent – Mathew Tait, Toby Flood, Geoff Parling and of course Jonny Wilkinson – but lately the well has dried up. But Kibirige, who has also represented England U18s, is desperate to be the next to make a name for himself at Kingston Park.
He said: “Pre-season has been hard work but I’ve loved it, I started just after my A-Levels, I couldn’t go and celebrate with my mates or anything but it’s worth it,” he said.
“Getting the chance to play in the Championship shows the coaches have a lot of faith in me, not many people get to do that when they’re still at school.
“I was really pleased with how I played in those games, I scored a few tries as well, and it wasn’t easy when you’re having to fit it around school work.”
With international honours already to his name, Kibirige is focused on Newcastle rather than the European U18 Championships in March while he is the wrong side of the age limit for this summer’s tour to South Africa.
He won’t be off England’s radar for long however and while the U20s set-up will take some cracking after the current crop secured Junior World Championship, Kibirige is determined to make his mark for the Red Rose.
“In terms of international stuff, playing for the U20s is my next goal,” he said. “Seeing how they did in the JWC was amazing, it shows how good the standard is but it also means it’s a set-up you want to be a part of and with a few guys moving on, hopefully I’ll get a chance.
“It’s always an honour to represent your country but then looking back to the Daily Mail Vase, that was a real highlight, there’s nothing better than playing at Twickenham with your best mates.”
Blessed with raw pace and power, Dean Richards and Falcons academy Mark Laycock – the man who spotted Kibirige as a 12-year-old, also laud his mental sharpness.
With exams out of the way and the Premiership return heralding opportunities in the LV= Cup, and the Premiership Rugby 7s, Kibirige is set to get the chance to show what he can do.
He said: “I think those competitions will give me a chance to get used to the step up and being a full-time player.
“I know it’ll be a huge step up to the Premiership but I just want to learn and work at my game.”