By PAUL REES

Steve Diamond takes over at Newcastle this week with club stalwart Micky Ward believing the hard-nosed former Sale and Worcester director of rugby is exactly what the Premiership’s basement club needs.
The Falcons parted company last week with head coach Alex Codling, little more than six months after he had arrived from Oyonnax having steered the club into the Top 14.
Codling replaced Dave Walder, who was put on gardening leave last March, and within days of his departure Newcastle secured their first win outside the Premiership Cup this season in Perpignan.
“I have chatted...