Our in-depth look at a Heineken Champions Cup side this week turns to Newcastle Falcons, who will be making only their third appearance in Europe's elite club competition in 2018/19, when they take on Edinburgh Rugby, Montpellier and RC Toulon in Pool 5. What is their European Cup record like? The Falcons encountered mixed fortunes in their two previous seasons in the competition. In their maiden campaign in 2001/02 they finished bottom of Pool 6 with one win from their six matches, but three seasons later they qualified for the quarter-finals after topping Pool 5 with five victories from six games. However, they were then beaten 48-8 by Stade Français Paris in the French capital. https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1009441642116509697 Who is on their coaching staff? Dean Richards has been the Falcons' director of rugby since 2012. He won the English Championship in his first season in charge and then last season guided Newcastle to a 20-year Premiership high finish of fourth, a return to the European Cup and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. The former England No.8 began his coaching career in 1998 at Leicester Tigers, where he spent 14 years as a player. He led them to two European Cups, in 2001 and 2002, as well as four Premiership titles, before brief spells in charge of Grenoble and Harlequins. Newcastle's head coach is Dave Walder, who spent seven seasons as a player at Kingston Park before switching to Wasps. The 40-year-old, who scored 388 points in 51 European appearances, initially rejoined the Falcons as kicking coach, was appointed attack coach in 2015 and head coach in 2017. The Falcons' forwards coach is another Kingston Park stalwart, Micky Ward, while defence coach John Wells followed Richards' path to Newcastle via Leicester. Who are their principal new signings? Richards has boosted his forward pack with the signing of prop Logovi'i Mulipola and hooker George McGuigan. Mulipola spent seven seasons at Welford Road, making 22 European Cup appearances for them, while McGuigan returns to Kingston Park after two campaigns with the Tigers. Wing or full-back Tom Arscott, signed from French side Rouen, also brings plenty of European experience with him, having previously played for Bristol Bears, Worcester Warriors, London Welsh and Sale Sharks in the European and Challenge Cups. Another signing from French rugby is Aurillac's Fiji back-row forward, Nemani Nagusa, who Richards describes as "an exciting player with pace, power and handling ability". https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1012039125418102795 Who are some of their other key players? Former England fly-half Toby Flood rejoined the Falcons in 2017 and certainly knows his way around the European stage, having accumulated 567 points in 66 European appearances for Newcastle, Leicester Tigers and Toulouse to date. Scrum-half Sonatane Takulua, centre Chris Harris and the dynamic wing duo of Sinoti Sinoti and Vereniki Goneva are all part of a sparky back line, while up front they can call on the experience of props David Wilson and Jon Welsh, plus flanker Mark Wilson. What are Newcastle saying about the draw? Director of rugby Dean Richards told the Falcons' website: "It's exciting for us to be back in the competition and we always knew we would be facing tough opponents. "All six group games will provide fierce opposition, but we are relishing the opportunity and looking forward to testing ourselves in Europe's top-level tournament." https://twitter.com/FalconsRugby/status/1009466125967642625