The second-string competition offers valuable game time to the club’s squad players and best young prospects, with a home-and-away format having been introduced for the 2017-18 season.

Newcastle will play in the Northern Conference along with Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Wasps and Worcester Warriors, with the top two teams after 10 rounds going through to the national semi-finals.

The Falcons’ home games in the competition will be predominantly Monday nights at Kingston Park Stadium with a 7pm kick-off, with any deviations from this slot being communicated nearer the time.

The Falcons begin their campaign away to Wasps on Monday September 4, hosting Sale in their first home game on September 25.

Academy manager and first team skills coach Mark Laycock (pictured) said: “The expansion of the Premiership Rugby A-League is great news because it offers more meaningful game time to our players.

“We always enjoy the A-League games and the lads get a lot out of them, so it will be great to get stuck into a good programme of fixtures come September.”

**NEWCASTLE FALCONS’ A-LEAGUE FIXTURES**

Sep 4: Wasps (away)

Sep 25: Sale Sharks (home)

Oct 2: Leicester Tigers (away)

Oct 23: Northampton Saints (away)

Nov 27: Wasps (home)

Dec 18: Worcester (away)

Jan 1: Sale Sharks (away)

Mar 26: Worcester (home)

Apr 2: Leicester Tigers (home)

Apr 9: Northampton Saints (home)

Apr 22: Semi-finals

Apr 30: Final

These dates follow hot on the heels of the announcement of the Aviva Premiership fixtures, with the Falcons kicking off their top-flight campaign at home to Worcester Warriors on Friday September 1. [**Click here to see the Aviva Premiership fixtures**.][1]

[1]: http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/2017-18-aviva-premiership-fixtures-announced