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| Beattie Makes Kingston Park Return |
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| Ross Beattie in Scotland action |
| © Sportsbeat Images |
| 20 June 2007, 5:03 pm |
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| Newcastle Falcons have announced that Border Reivers No.8, Ross Beattie, will start the new season with the club. |
The 29-year-old former Scotland international returns to Kingston Park having previously come through the club’s academy, before going on to first team and full international honours with Scotland.
Director of rugby, John Fletcher, said: “Ross is a big physical player who will contribute to our back row.
“He was under contract for this season with Border Reivers, but with the club being disbanded the only other Scottish Rugby Union controlled team, Glasgow, decided not to take him on because of injury.
“Ross has been training with us for a month already and shown a huge desire to represent the Falcons again, so by starting the season with us it allows the chance for him to state his case for a contract in the first few months of the campaign.
“Our medical team has been liaising closely with its counterparts in Scotland, and we are satisfied that Ross will be with us for the next few months before we review the situation in November and potentially offer him a contract. Everyone is going in to it with their eyes open, and the chance for Ross to play his way in to our plans is now in his hands.”
Capped nine times by Scotland at full Test level, the 6 foot 4, 17 stone 3 back row man came through the Falcons academy before going on to represent the Newcastle first team.
Having moved from the Falcons to fellow Premiership side Bristol, Beattie has also played for Northampton and Newport Gwent Dragons in a career which has seen him capped by England at Under-19s, 21s and Students level, as well as Scotland Under-18s and the full Scottish Test side. His nine Scotland caps included three appearances in the last Rugby World Cup.
He said on rejoining the Falcons: “You don’t realise how much you miss something until it’s taken away from you, and having been away from Newcastle for a number of years people who know me will know how much it means to me to finally be back and have this chance.
“John Fletcher has been very open with me and we both know what the score is. My part of the bargain is to be in the best possible condition to play, and to put my case forward on the field. That will then be reviewed after the first few months, and the burning desire on my part is to continue playing for a club which is enormously close to my heart.”
Ross Beattie profile:
Born: 15/11/77
Height: 6ft 4
Weight: 17st 3
Position: No.8/back row
Honours: Scotland (9 Test caps), England U21s, U19s, Students, Scotland U18s
Previous clubs: Border Reivers, Northampton, Newport, Bristol, Newcastle |
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