Falcons bolster half back options
Vastly experienced Fly Half Andy Goode and exciting young scrum half Jamie Booth have agreed terms to join Newcastle Falcons on three month contracts, in the wake of injuries to Mike Delany and Ruki Tipuna.
The half back pairing have been ruled out through injuries and are not expected back until the Spring, with Director of Rugby Dean Richards moving to ensure the club continue to have options available in these two positions.
With a total 229 appearances and 2,228 points to date in the Aviva Premiership, Goode needs no introduction. An integral part of the Wasps team in season 2014/15, he has also played for Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Worcester in addition to a stint at Top 14 side Brive Correze.
A full England international, capped 17 times between 2005-2009, Goode is a hugely talented operator. During Wasps first game at their new Ricoh Arena home in December 2014, he equalled the Premiership record of the most points scored by a player in a single game with 33.
21 year old Booth joins the Falcons from Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand, with a growing reputation after enjoying a stellar 2015.
Impressing in the domestic ITM Cup, the graduate of Palmerston North Boys High School earned the opportunity to train as part of the wider training squad of Super 15 franchises Hurricanes and Blues on the strength of those showings.
Speaking about the new additions, Director of Rugby Dean Richards said: “We’re delighted to welcome Andy and Jamie to Kingston Park, although there is obviously disappointment that they come through injuries to Mike and Ruki.”
“With those two unavailable to us for the immediate future, the opportunity to bring in additional players of the quality of Andy and Jamie, to supplement what we already have here, was a great opportunity”
“Andy is known quantity and will bring a huge amount of experience while Jamie has been impressing a lot of people over in New Zealand and has the opportunity to do the same here at Kingston Park.”
Fly Half Goode said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge after having 4 months to recuperate and let my body recover. It’s a short term opportunity but I want to do as much as I can for the Falcons as I have a huge amount of respect for Dean who I go back a long time with and who gave me my first opportunity at Leicester 17 years ago.”
Scrum Half Booth said: “I am excited to be moving to Newcastle in order to join the Falcons. The move represents a great opportunity for me to improve my rugby and further my career in England.”
Both players will report for training with immediate effect and will be in contention to make their club débuts at home against Bath this Saturday 2nd January (3pm KO).
