Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Dan McFarland believes that Ollie Leatherbarrow’s call-up to the Scotland squad is proof of the progress that he and the team are making.

Leatherbarrow has received his first selection for Gregor Townsend’s senior squad for their Nations Championship programme in November.

It comes after the 24-year-old’s four displays in the Prem for Newcastle this season where the flanker has been used as an impact replacement.

“Ollie has been excellent for us throughout pre-season and in the games,” said McFarland.

“He’s an extremely impactful player, a huge competitor. He loves to get his hands on the ball and very dynamic when he has had the ball.

“Ollie’s call-up is a recognition of how he’s been performing and how the team has been performing.”

Leatherbarrow moved to Newcastle from Exeter Chiefs in 2023 and was awarded a new two-year contract heading into this season as the squad was rebuilt.

The Macclesfield-born player, who qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother and has already played for them at age-group level, is competing for a spot in a hotly-contested Red Bulls back row.

It also features captain Tom Christie and summer imports from New Zealand in Hoskins Sotutu and Max Hicks, with Leatherbarrow carrying out a specific role off the bench.

He replaced Hicks late on in the Red Bulls’ win over Sale Sharks as they picked up a first Prem victory of the season, but with Newcastle having collected points in all four of their league games, their performances are starting to draw wider attention, according to McFarland.

“I know we’ve had players who have been on the radar of their international teams at the moment,” he said.

“If you’re not playing rugby that’s competitive, these guys don’t get a look-in.

“We’ve got a lot of ambitious young men here who want to play for their countries. It’s a goal for us, and for me personally, that we can support them in that pursuit.”