Flood back to Falcons after nine-year hiatus

TOBY Flood will be returning to Newcastle this summer after Toulouse agreed to release him from his contract a year early.

The 31-year-old, who has 60 England caps, left Newcastle in 2008 for Leicester Tigers where he played for six seasons before his move to France in 2014.

He said: “When the opportunity came it didn’t take long for me to make the decision. It really feels like I’m coming home.

“They didn’t have to do much of a sales pitch and with the recruitment they have put in place it was too exciting a proposition to turn down.”

Meanwhile, Sale have confirmed the signing of Springbok Faf de Klerk, as revealed in Fissler Files on April 16. The scrum-half will replace the retiring Mike Phillips and Peter Stringer, joining from the Lions on a three-year deal.

Gloucester confirmed the signing of Jason Woodward from relegated Bristol.

Northampton have brought in Western Force prop Francois van Wyk while Worcester have handed World Cup winner Wynand Olivier a new deal.

Exeter lock Geoff Parling will leave the club this summer for a spell in Japan and Australia.

Tom Williams and Tom Calladine have signed a new contract with Rotherham where scrum half Rhodri Davies has signed.

Former England Saxons hooker Tom Lindsay,

Jersey wing Richard Lane and London Scottish flyhalf Harry Sheppard will all head to Bedford, who see Dan George and Mike Howard go to London

Scottish. Bedford’s James Hallam and Piers O’Conor from Wasps have signed for Ealing Trailfinders.

Canadian international lock Tyler Ardon will leave the Ospreys after four seasons and move to the Chiefs in Super Rugby.