Hooker Alun Walker signs short-term deal
The experienced Scotsman has been with Ealing since 2014 having made his professional breakthrough with Edinburgh – the former Scotland Under-20s international spending a season with Nottingham before moving to the English capital.
Walker, 32, has already started training with Newcastle and is available for selection for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership trip to Bath.
Head coach Dave Walder said: “Alun is an experienced campaigner with a good reputation for his set-piece work.
“It’s important for us to have options at hooker, and Alun will give us that bit more depth. He has a strong set-piece focus and I look forward to working with him during his time with us.”
Walker, whose first visit to Kingston Park was with Scotland A against England Saxons, said: “It’s come a little bit out of the blue but it’s a great opportunity and I’m glad to be here.
“My family are just over the border so it’s nice to be so close to home, but the main thing is it’s a big chance from a rugby perspective.”
Explaining his journey so far, Walker said: “I was born and raised in Musselburgh, Currie was my first senior club before I went to Melrose for a couple of years under Craig Chalmers and I spent four years with Edinburgh, where I played Scotland age-group stuff up to Under-20s.
“I went out on loan to Nottingham for a year and ended up really enjoying English rugby, especially with the set-piece focus. I signed a contract with Ealing from there, which is where I’ve been for the last nine years.
“We’ve consistently been in the top two or three in the Championship, competing hard with the Premiership teams coming down, and last season we finished top of the league. We didn’t gain promotion due to off-the-field stuff, but we’ve consistently competed well at that level.”
Giving supporters an idea of what to expect from their new arrival, he added: “I’d like to say I’m a set-piece hooker so my strengths are mainly my scrum and line-out, and I pride myself on my general skills.
“I just want to come up and enjoy my rugby during the three months of my stay, or however long it ends up being, and I know I’m in a good environment.”
**Alun Walker bio**
Born: 28/09/1990
Height: 180cm (5ft 11)
Weight: 115kg (18st 1)
