
Senior academy deals for Farrar and Marshall
The duo will train full-time with Newcastle Falcons’ first team squad, taking the number of new senior academy players to six after graduating from the club’s junior academy alongside Morgan Passman, Will Montgomery, Josh Hodge and Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti.
West Cumbrian back-row forward Rob Farrar rises to senior academy status after a season which saw him representing England Under-18s.
Newcastle Falcons academy manager and first team skills coach Mark Laycock said: “Rob is a very physical and abrasive player with great athleticism.
“He has had a very good under-18 season since featuring for the Falcons’ A-Team back in August against Doncaster Knights. He is starring in an unbeaten Sedbergh School team which won both the Rosslyn Park 7s and the Sedbergh 10s, and was prominent in the Academy Under-18 League as well as representing England Under-18s.”
No 8 Marshall steps up to the senior academy after helping Gosforth Academy to their second successive national AASE final, also representing Blyth RFC and Northumberland.
Laycock said: “Tom is a very intelligent player who has come all the way through the academy pathway, and has a good skill set and a strong work ethic.
“After a lengthy injury lay-off he has finished the season strongly, playing in the National AASE Final at Allianz Park, the Academy Under-18 League and England Under-18s. More recently he featured for us in the A League semi-final at Exeter Braves.
“It’s great news that Tom and Rob have progressed through to the senior academy for this coming season, taking our total of new additions to six, and we are delighted to be working with such talented and driven local players.”