Newcastle Falcons confirm Brookes’ departure

Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Newcastle Falcons have confirmed that star man Kieran Brookes will move from the club to their domestic rivals and Aviva Premiership table toppers the Northampton Saints at the end of the season.

Brookes is currently in his second spell at the club following his departure after 40 games in 2011 to join the Leicester Tigers. He endured a difficult couple of seasons at the record Premiership champions and swiftly made a return to Kingston Park, initially on loan, during which time, he helped the club return from the Rugby Football Union Championship to the Aviva Premiership, before turning his loan move into a permanent one when he signed a two-year contract.

However, the Northampton Saints announced a couple of weeks back that the 24 year old is set to leave the club again and link up with them at the end of the season on a multi-year contract.

The move comes on the back of a brilliant year for the Newcastle Falcons man, during which time; he made his debut for England, winning six caps. He backed up an impressive debut series against New Zealand with brilliant displays during the autumn internationals.

Dean Richards, the Director of Rugby at the Falcons said that the club is obviously disappointed at seeing the player leave for Northampton as they would have liked to retain his services. He added that the Newcastle Falcons is the place where he has thrived the most, the club developed him as a youngster and made him ready for an England call-up.

Richards mentioned that the club had tried to renegotiate his contract for a long period but it became clear that his agent and the player were keen to move away from the club and they wish him all the best.