Forwards coach Peter Walton and academy manager Richard Metcalf took the session, with Walton stating: “This is the second week of our pre-season schedule, and after putting some hard work in during their earlier gym sessions today was a chance for a change of scenery and to get some good skills work in.

“We started off with basketball where Andy Perry, Mark Sorenson and James Hoyle showed us a few tricks, and as usual Matt Burke was right in the middle of everything.

“From there we moved on to some skills and relay work with the rugby balls, different types of passes and movements which will complement the stuff the boys have been doing in the gym during the rest of the week.

“Steve Jones joined in with the squad for the first time this week and seems to have taken over Loki Crichton’s mantle as the nimble skills king in the touch rugby, but in all seriousness he’s settled back in really well and we’ve had a very positive pre-season so far.

“After this week the boys will have another couple of weeks off before we get stuck back in to the next chunk of training, which will again combine rugby and ball skills with the gym work.”

The Falcons ended the basketball session by recreating the movie ‘Dodgeball’ in a keenly-contested game.

“That was just a bit of fun for the lads at the end of training, but knowing these professional sportsmen as I do it quickly became very competitive,” said Walton, the former Scotland back rower.

“Mark Sorenson’s fast bowling action was one of the main strike weapons, and I’m sure we’ll see some of our new dodgeball moves in next season’s Guinness Premiership!”