Newcastle Eagles make history in Europe, topping ENBL group

Fresh from winning the 2025 Super League Basketball Trophy Final and their 28th major title in top-flight British basketball, the Newcastle Eagles have made yet more history but this time on the European stage.

With a 79-58 win over Estonia’s Tartu Ulikool last night, the Eagles became the first British side ever to top their group in the European North Basketball League (ENBL).

In their second season in the competition after a positive debut campaign last year, Head Coach Marc Steutel has led his side to a 7-1 record in group play, topping elite teams from Romania, Poland, Latvia, the Netherlands and more.

The Tyneside club now advance to the next stage of the competition where they will face the defending ENBL champions and Danish heavyweights, Bakken Bears to compete for a place in April’s Final Four.

Following the team’s success in the competition group stages, Managing Director of Newcastle Eagles Paul Blake said:

“I’m extremely proud of all the team and what they’ve achieved in European competition so far this season.

“We entered the competition last season with no other goal than to see how we would fair against teams from leagues that were perceived to be of a higher level than ours.

“In that first season, we surprised a lot of people with a winning record and qualification into the Quarter Finals.

“So, to now go a step further this season and win our group, is an achievement that deserves some recognition. It’s a first for the club and something for the North-east to be proud of.

“Playing in Europe, with the domestic schedule that we have, is extremely tough and it’s great to see us succeeding.

“Our league, the SLB, and its clubs are doing great things here, building venues, growing our fanbase, our commerciality and importantly our impact in the community. We are moving in the right direction and all making forward steps each season.”

Newcastle Eagles Head Coach Marc Steutel added:

“I’m elated to finish the group stages the right way. Winning the group is really important and it was one of our goals that we set out at the start of the season. To have been able to get better at each stage of this campaign has been great.

“It was a really professional performance from the squad to finish the ENBL regular season tonight and we look forward to competing against Bakken in the Playoffs Quarter Finals.

“It’s a rematch of last year so we want to try and make sure that we take steps forward. I’m really proud of this team and their performance on a historic night for the club.

“To be seven and one in our second campaign in Europe, and to finish top, is something everyone associated with the club can be really proud of and hopefully we can continue to build upon.”

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