Academy product Joe Graham has signed a one-year contract extension ahead of the 2012-13 season.
The 25-year-old hooker, who hails from Brampton, Cumbria, made 22 appearances last term crossing the whitewash twice.
Playing his junior rugby for Carlisle, Graham moved to Tynedale for the 2009-10 season where he scored 11 tries in 25 games for the National League One club to earn himself a permanent move to the Aviva Premiership outfit.
“It is a very exciting time for the Falcons at the moment and the club is certainly moving in the right direction,” said Graham.
“I am really looking forward to Dean Richards coming in as the new director of rugby and I am delighted to be a part of this ambitious set-up,” added the former England Counties representative.
Now into his third week of pre-season training, Graham and his fellow teammates were put through their paces on the dunes at Druridge Bay in Northumberland on Friday afternoon.
And with Richards’ imminent arrival to the North East, the Cumbrian front-rower reveals he is enjoying life at Kingston Park.
He said: “Training has been going really well and we have been doing a mixture of skills and fitness in the first two weeks.
“I really enjoy coming into the club each day and it is a pleasure to work with this committed and professional bunch of guys.”
The Falcons kick-off their pre-season campaign with a festival of rugby on Saturday 11 August with a triple header taking place at Kingston Park.
Doncaster Knights and Leeds Carnegie will lock horns with the North East outfit either side of Consett Rugby’s clash with Chicago side Illinois Tornados.
On Friday 17 August the Falcons host Heineken Cup semi-finalists Edinburgh (kick-off 7.45pm).
Tickets for the home friendlies are priced at £10 adults and £5 juniors (under-16s) and are available by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
Alternatively you can call into the Kingston Park box office during office hours.
Season Ticket Holders for the 2012-13 campaign can enjoy these fixtures free of charge as both are included in the Season Ticket package.
To snap up your 2012-13 Season Ticket please call 0871 226 6060 or click here now!
