Scotland and British & Irish Lions centre Chris Harris will be leaving Bath Rugby at the end of the season to rejoin Newcastle Red Bulls, returning to the club where he made his professional debut.
Hailing from Carlisle, Harris previously made 104 appearances for Newcastle before transferring to Gloucester in 2019. After contributing over 100 games for the Cherry and Whites, he moved to Gallagher Premiership champions Bath Rugby last summer. Now, he is set to come full circle and bring his wealth of experience back to Kingston Park.
The 6-foot-2 midfielder, capped 47 times by Scotland and a former test starter for the Lions during their South Africa tour, expressed excitement about the move: “It’s a real full-circle moment to be heading back to Kingston Park. I’m looking forward to returning to where it all began and helping to galvanise this new group of talented players as we work towards the future.”
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Harris added, “Newcastle is home to me, and I owe so much to this club. I can’t wait to bring my experience, both on and off the field, and wear the shirt once again. There’s a clear vision at Newcastle Red Bulls, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this new chapter.”
Newcastle’s sporting general manager, Neil McIlroy, welcomed the signing: “Chris is a top player who has demonstrated his quality at the highest levels of both international and club rugby over many years. He’ll bring real strength and experience to our midfield. Equally important is the leadership he’ll provide in helping develop our exciting pool of young talent. Being local to the area, Chris shares our ambition to return Newcastle to the top tier of both domestic and European rugby.”