Newcastle Falcons' preparations for the 2022-23 Gallagher Premiership season are well underway with the announcement of two new signings and key player contract extensions
As the season draws to a close, Newcastle Falcons have been busy planning for the new campaign, bolstering the squad with two new signings in fly-half Tian Schoeman and second-rower, Josh Peters.
”I’ve only heard good things about Newcastle, both as a city and a club, and I’m really looking forward to playing here” said Schoeman, the 30-year-old from Pretoria, South Africa. Signing on a three-year deal, Schoeman had previously played for South African sides the Bulls and Cheetahs, as well as spells at Bordeaux, and most recently, Bath.
Schoeman is currently rehabbing from a knee injury that kept him out of most of this season and upon reflection and looking ahead to the new campaign, he added: ”My journey at Bath was tough, with coming over in January 2021, playing five games and then suffering a serious injury, but Newcastle is a fresh start for me, and I can’t wait to get going.
”I want to bring some flair and an attacking mind-set, and I really back myself with the ball. Hopefully I can transfer that into the team once I start properly in the summer.”
Speaking on his new team-mates, Schoeman added: ”One of their things throughout has always been to have a great pack of forwards. You get a lot of front-foot ball playing behind those guys, and as a fly-half that excites me.”
Joining Schoeman for next season, is 26-year-old Peters, standing at 2.04m (6 foot 8) and weighing 117kg (18 stone 5). Capped 10 times for Spain, the Spanish international joins from Championship title contenders Doncaster Knights, having previously enjoyed spells at Northampton Saints academy, Coventry, Cambridge and Blackheath.
Speaking on his move to Falcons, Peters said: ”It’s a great opportunity to go up a level and challenge myself in a Premiership environment.” Signing on a two-year deal, Peters joins an already competitive list of Falcons second-rowers but is confident of bringing an extra dimension to the squad, adding:
”It’s exciting to be making the move, with set-piece and physicality being the main areas of strength in my game, through hard work and learning, I’ll look to push for a place.” Further to the new additions to the squad, Falcons have also been busy securing key player contract extensions. Matias Orlando, Connor Collett, Brett Connon, Adam Brocklebank, Mark Tampin, Philip van der Walt, Mateo Carreras, Tom Penny, Iwan Stephens and Freddie Lockwood have all committed to future seasons in the North East, many having come through the club’s academy.
Speaking on his recent two-year extension, Connon said: ”I’ve been involved with the Falcons since I was 15, and even before that I came here as a fan. I would be waiting for the players’ autographs after the games, so to be here now as a player myself is really special.
”Playing for the club you supported as a boy is most people’s dream, and as well as being close to family and friends, it’s great being part of something exciting with the way we’re building here. ”We always talk about games like Toulon away and Montpellier at home as being the best times at the club, and over the next two years if I can help us get back to occasions like that, then I’ll be happy. ”Getting back into the top half of the Premiership and into the top level of European competition is where we want to be, for the club and all of our supporters.
