Rugby
Falcons Loan deal
23 July 2006
Newcastle Falcons have announced a triple loan deal with National League One club, Cornish Pirates, for three of their up-and-coming forwards. Prop Johnny Williams, blindside flanker Eni Gesinde and openside Ed Williamson will all link up with the Pirates for the next three months, returning to Kingston Park at the end of October.
Director of rugby, John Fletcher, said: “All three players are in a crucial stage of their development, and the opportunity of game time at National One level, the closest thing to Guinness Premiership standard, will be excellent in aiding their progress.
“They will be available for nine league games and two pre-season matches for the Pirates, and it means they will hit the ground running when they return to the Falcons at the end of their three months.
“With the Rugby World Cup being on during September and October it means there are no Guinness A League matches, so it is important for the guys just underneath the first team 22 to get games under their belts. A lot of our squad will also be representing local clubs throughout the season to complement their Falcons rugby, which is absolutely vital.
“We have heard excellent reports about Cornish Pirates from our former hooker Nick Makin, who has played there, and I have recently spent time with their director of rugby Jim McKay while we were both studying for our RFU Level Four coaching badge.”
Gesinde (24), Williams (24) and Williamson (23) have all represented the Falcons first team in Guinness Premiership action. The club had previously announced that fellow Falcons forward Sean Tomes will spend the 2007/8 season on loan in National One, with the former Scotland Under-21s lock already in training with the Doncaster Knights squad.
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