Falcons add old boy Evan
CANADIAN international back-five forward Evan Olmstead has returned to Newcastle Falcons with immediate effect as the Kingston Park club bolster their ranks for the Gallagher Premiership run-in.
The 28-year-old was part of the Falcons squad which last season achieved their best finish for 20 years, ending up fourth in the Premiership table and making three semi-finals.
Making 28 appearances in his two seasons on Tyneside, Olmstead left the club last summer to help Auckland win New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup final.
As recently as three weeks ago, the versatile forward was in pre-season action for Super Rugby side the Blues.
Landing in Newcastle over the weekend, he immediately comes into the selection pool for this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership visit of Worcester Warriors, the 27-timescapped Canadian said: “I’m excited to be back in Newcastle re-connecting with the players, staff and supporters.
“I hope to make a positive impact over the rest of the season – I really enjoyed my two years with the Falcons and it definitely feels like I’m returning to my home from home.”
Director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Evan is a proven player at this level and we know exactly what we are getting, so it’s a signing which makes
perfect sense. He offers us athleticism and aggression around the park, he is a good line-out option who can play at lock or in the back row and he understands the way we want to play the game.”
The Falcons are currently bottom of the Gallagher Premiership and trail Bristol Bears and Sunday’s opponents Worcester by nine points.
Evan is a proven player at this level and we know exactly what we are getting Dean Richards