England U18s pair sign senior academy contracts
Both players are currently members of the Falcons’ junior academy who will train full-time with the club upon completion of their studies this summer, academy manager and first team skills coach Mark Laycock delighted to have handed them their first professional deals.
He said: “Both players have featured prominently for us during the Under-18s league this season, and just go to show the talent we have within our region.
“Josh is a full-back from South Cumbria who is currently at Sedbergh School, he is an exciting runner with a good kicking game and has been involved with England Under-18s squad on the back of his outstanding form.
“Cameron is a scrum-half of Fijian descent who has been studying at Durham School, he has played for England at Under-18s level and played England 7s in the Commonwealth Youth Games. He’s a very gifted ball player and runner who has already played twice for the Falcons in the A-League, and we’re really pleased to have both guys staying on with us.”
News of the senior academy contracts for Hodge and Nordli-Kelemeti follows on from similar deals being announced for Morgan Passman and Will Montgomery, Laycock stating: “We have a great crop of players coming through and it’s fantastic for them to be at a club where such a high value is placed on developing our own talent and giving them exposure to senior rugby.”
