Scrum-half Raffi Quirke says that leaving Sale Sharks was one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to make, but has been impressed with how things are taking shape at a revamped Newcastle Red Bulls.

Quirke is one of 25 new arrivals at Kingston Park, with the Red Bull ownership looking to improve on a team which has finished bottom of the table for the past four seasons.

The move north means stepping away from his boyhood side and familiar surroundings, but the 25-year-old is excited by the challenge of pushing Newcastle forward in a new era for the club.

“It was probably one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make – having those conversations with people who gave me my first ever opportunity, leaving all my home mates, family, friends from school,” Quirke told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

“It was a huge decision but I just felt as though I was at a point in my career where I needed to have a new chapter and get out of my comfort zone.

“It’s been really cool – new team, new players, new coaches. The whole thing is an exciting new project. We are all getting aligned but it has been an exciting start.

“It feels massively new to me [changes at Newcastle] but even for the lads that have been here before – they have changed the changing rooms up, there are new coaches, they are holding players a lot more accountable in sessions and feedback. The fitness sessions have been harder, everything has been so much harder – they are all saying ‘this is what we have needed’.

“Coming from Sale, Newcastle have been bottom of the league for quite a few years now, so I was expecting there to be lots of things that needed to be changed or picked up on, but I feel like it is already happening.”

Being one of so many new additions at Newcastle does not come without its challenges, but Quirke is excited by the prospect of building relationships and a winning team practically from scratch.

“We need to try and get connected as quickly as possible, both on and off the pitch so we have that understanding,” he said.

“I was at Sale since I was 15, growing up with players there. I knew everyone’s habits, we knew everything about each other, whereas at Newcastle I know a few people from Sale but I’m trying to get to understand everyone else.

“People have come from New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, all over. People have been playing in France – everyone’s culture is so different so it is about trying to get honed in on the same goal, understanding each other and what makes everyone tick. It has been really exciting.

“We had a trip to Austria which was really good to spend lots of time together because no-one is going back home to their wives and families. We had a couple of good socials.

“We’ve also had a couple of good socials just on weekends to spend time together off the pitch. It seems like a group that is really sociable anyway. If you went for dinner with the team, you wouldn’t mind what table you were sat at.

“If you were to join a team that is already established there are cliques, whereas we are all joining here. If there is an initiation the whole team will be doing it!”

Quirke is also keen to use the move to help him work his way back into the England setup on a consistent basis.

“Speaking to the coaches and people higher up, they really wanted me to be back playing for England and pushing me to my limits – and that is what I really wanted to hear,” he said.

“I’ve had ups and downs in terms of selection and injuries at really crucial times, which has been really frustrating. Hopefully this move really sparks a new start. I want to be playing for England again – that’s my main goal.”