Stuart, who turned 31 last month, has made 72 appearances for the Falcons since joining from Richmond in the summer of 2017.

The experienced half-back has scored two tries in his ten outings this season, including the decisive second try in last Friday’s 20-14 home victory over Sale Sharks.

The former Sedbergh School pupil played for England Under-16s, 18s and 20s, joining Harlequins straight from school. Enduring a cruel run of injuries before bouncing back with Richmond in the Championship, Stuart insisted it was an easy decision to commit his future to the Falcons.

“I like the club, I like the lads and I like where we’re going, so it was an absolute no-brainer for me,” he said.

“I’m enjoying my rugby at the moment, I’ve been involved in the match squad on a pretty consistent basis and I’m relishing the opportunity every time I get on the pitch.

“In a game that’s based around opinion it’s nice to know that you feel valued enough by people that they want you to stay for the long term, and I’m really happy to have it sorted. I’m settled up here on the family side as well, and when the option came up to stay with the Falcons it was a simple call to make.”

With Newcastle beating high-flying Sale Sharks last time out, Stuart said: “We’ve won three our of our last five in the league, and the table is really tight when you look at it.

“There are only nine points between Bath at the bottom and Leicester in fourth, which becomes really frustrating when you consider some of the games we could and should have won, like Quins at home and Northampton away.

“In terms of where we’re aiming, we absolutely want to be in that top half of the table, and to push on from there.”

Travelling to Bath on Saturday having won on three of their last four visits to The Rec, the scrum-half insists revenge is very much in the minds of he and his team-mates.

“We had a really poor performance at home to Bath, and as much as you don’t want to carry psychological baggage there’s a definite feeling among the boys that we owe them one,” said Stuart.

“We were really disappointed by how we played that day, and at the very least we owe ourselves and our supporters a much better performance.

“Without wanting to put the commentator’s curse on it we’ve won quite a few times down at The Rec on our recent visits, and it’s a ground we’ve gone pretty well at.

“It doesn’t count for a lot this weekend because it’s a new challenge and they’ve been going pretty well recently, but we know it’s a place we can go to and win when we get our mentality and our game plan right.”

Speaking on the news of Stuart’s contract renewal, Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder said: “Sam has been a very consistent performer for us and it’s great that he will remain part of our plans for the next few seasons.

“He works hard at his game, he has really bought into what we are trying to do here and I know he will have a big part to play as we keep moving forward as a club.”

Newcastle Falcons’ next home game is on Saturday January 7 when champions Leicester Tigers visit Kingston Park Stadium in Gallagher Premiership action.

[**Click here**][1] to buy tickets for the 2pm kick-off.

[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/EDP/Event/Index/1748?position=2