| The club has a senior academy squad, with around 10 players per year included. These players train full time with the Falcons first team, and as well as often playing for the club’s development team, are also in contention for first team selection.
This squad is also bolstered by a number of associate academy players, who play and train with the development team on a part-time basis.
As the Falcons continue to unearth the stars of the future, the club has a pioneering scheme whereby boys aged between 12-18 are brought in for coaching – many being exposed to rugby for the first time.
Over 300 schools in the region are invited to send their best athletes to sessions organised by the club, and from there the Falcons identify around two or three players from each of their three areas for further coaching – Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria.
While the Falcons deliberately do not field any age-group teams apart from once or twice a year, the coaching received will allow the players to develop in their current school or club sides.
The main qualities the Falcons look for in identifying talent are attitude, athletic potential and game awareness.
As well as coaching local youngsters, the Falcons academy also works hard to coach local club and school coaches, to ensure that coaching standards throughout the region are high, which will lead to an all-round improvement at a number of levels throughout the game.
Newcastle Falcons enjoys a well-earned reputation as one of the leading lights in developing top quality young rugby players over a number of years, and has a commitment to continuing with that great tradition.
CONTACTS:
Richard Metcalf
Academy Manager
Tel: 0191 214 2894
Email: Richard.Metcalf@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
Mark Laycock
Junior Academy Manager
Tel: 0191 214 2895
Email: Mark.Laycock@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
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