Newcastle Falcons’ Under-18s play their first home game of the season on Wednesday when they host Saracens at Kingston Park.

The 12 noon kick-off has free entry for all supporters via the East Stand Tap & Tackle bar, with coach PJ Butler explaining how it fits into their season structure.

“This is a pre-season friendly, and we have another one at home to Yorkshire next Wednesday with the under-17s playing at 6pm and the 18s at 8pm,” he said.

“Our under-17s and 18s both played in the RFU Festival at Malvern last week with all the Premiership clubs and RFU academies, playing three half-hour games each.

“It was a really worthwhile trip and the lads played some good stuff. Our 18s drew with Sale (5-5) and lost to Bristol (5-10) and Leicester (10-20), while our 17s beat Leicester (25-15) and Northampton (20-10), and lost to Harlequins (5-15).

“Malvern was our first chance to put into practice the things we’ve been working on during the past six to eight weeks.

“Our under-17s really bought into how we’re trying to play and they had some great results, whereas the 18s was probably a bit more challenging in an age group where teams tend to be more organised. Still, they bought into our systems, and as coaches it’s always nice to see that transfer from training into the matches.”

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s home date with Sarries, Butler said: “It’s great to be playing Saracens because they’re not a side we would normally get the chance to face during the regular season, and it’ll be a good test.

“There are a few boys who are still with us from last season’s under-18s, but a lot of the lads will be new to this age group. Our under-17s have been outstanding so there’s some real talent coming through, but it’s not an 18s group which has a load of Academy League experience.

“We’ve got Patrick Hogg and Elvis Kitenge-Fuki in South Africa with England Under-18s at the moment, which is great for them, and what it also means is we have opportunities for lads to come in and stake a claim while those guys aren’t here.”

With the official league games waiting until the new year rather than starting in their traditional summer slot, Butler explained: “The structure of the U18s league season is a little different this season in that the RFU have removed the one or two games we used to play during the summer holidays.

“We’ve still got these couple of friendlies which are very useful, but in terms of our under-18s league games they will all be in that block after the new year.

“So once we’ve played these friendlies the lads will go back to their schools and clubs, and begin training with us again in November and December leading into the league games during January and February.”

Newcastle Falcons U18s v Saracens (Wednesday, 12pm, Kingston Park)

15 Ajay Edwards (Durham School, Durham City)

14 Olly Stanley (Barnard Castle School, Darlington RFC)

13 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy)

12 Conrad Thorpe (Gosforth Academy, Tynedale)

11 Charlie Lawson (Gosforth Academy, Houghton RUFC)

10 Charlie Dinneen (Kirbie Kendal School, Kendal RUFC)

9 Joe Syson (Northfield School & Sports College, Billingham)

1 Aiden Binks (Bede Sixth Form, Stockton RUFC)

2 Ben Hyndman (Gosforth Academy, Billingham)

3 Alfie Booth (Gosforth Academy, Novocastrians)

4 George Bolam (Durham School, Durham City)

5 Lauchlan Hill (Gosforth Academy, Billingham)

6 Euan Oakes (Durham School, Durham City)

7 Matty Hogan (Durham School, Durham City)

8 Will Graham (Dame Allan’s, Percy Park)

Replacements

16 Harry Bellamy (Sedbergh School)

17 Nathan Rickerby (Keswick School, Keswick RFC)

18 Spencer Moore (Sedbergh School)

19 Joe Browell (High Tunstall College, Billingham)

20 Max Lyon (Gosforth Academy, Blaydon RFC)

21 Jonathon Broadbent

22 Fin Lawless (Gosforth Academy, Blaydon RFC)

23 Idris Morgan (Gosforth Academy, Kendal RUFC)

24 Matthew Cooke (Sedbergh School)

27 Oliver Byass (Loretto School, Berwick Rugby)

28 Alfie Warwick (Nelson Thomlinson, Wigton)

29 Jonny Douglas (Gosforth Academy, Tynedale)