Falcons secure Sevens flyer

Newcastle Falcons have secured the signature of England Sevens International star Marcus Watson and will join the club for the 2015/2016 season.

Watson, the elder brother of England and Bath's Anthony, is a product of the London Irish Academy and has been part of the England Sevens team since stepping into the playmaker role vacated by former Falcon Ben Gollings during the 2011/2012 season.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed great success on the Sevens circuit, scoring a total of 49 tries across 26 Sevens World Series events and formed part of the squad that contested in both the 2013 Sevens World Cup in Moscow and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In the 15-a-side game, Watson has represented England throughout age-group levels and featured in the Junior World Championship in 2010. He has also made two appearances in the Premiership for the Exiles against Bath and Northampton Saints, before joining Saracens.

"I'm very pleased to have secured Marcus' services for next season. He is a very talented player who has shown and developed a vast array of skills in his time on the Sevens circuit and I am looking forward to seeing him translate those to the full 15-a-side game.

"He has shown a real desire to make an impression in 15s and it has impressed me that he has chosen to come to us and seize the opportunity when the Olympics, in Rio, are only 18 months away and it is that sort of attitude that has brought him to our attention," Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said.

"I've massively enjoyed my time with England Sevens. I came into the programme hoping to better myself as a player and I definitely feel like I have done that. It's been an amazing experience, and something I'll always be proud of.

"I would encourage any young player to get into Sevens ¬ it's a brilliant game and I'm thankful for all that it's given me. I'm looking forward to heading up to Newcastle next season, it will be a new challenge for me, but one I'm excited about," Marcus Watson said.