Prop Mitchell makes move to Newcastle
FORMER Wales prop Craig Mitchell has joined Gallagher Premiership strugglers Newcastle Falcons on a three-month deal.
The 32-year-old spent the back end of last season with Yorkshire Carnegie in the Greene King IPA Championship but has spent the past fortnight at Kingston Park and played a couple of games for the Falcons second string.
It’s the second time Mitchell has had a dabble with the top flight of English rugby playing 26 games in the Premiership for Exeter Chiefs.
The 15-times capped front-rower moved to the west country in 2011 after playing 35 games for the Ospreys over five seasons.
He also turned out for Neath and Swansea in the Principality Premiership and spent three seasons at Exeter before returning to Wales with the Cardiff Blues.
After two seasons at the Arms Park, Mitchell moved to regional rivals the Dragons and played 11-times before his contract came to an end.
He was poised to join Bath last season but suffered a serious injury in pre-season at The Rec that sidelined him for six months.
He returned with Carnegie and is now set for a short-term deal with Newcastle, currently bottom of the Premiership after defeats to Saracens and Leicester Tigers.
Newcastle’s director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Craig is a vastly experienced campaigner who can add to our depth at a time when we have been hit by a number of injuries to our props.
“We have had a good look at him in action for our A-Team over the last couple of Shield games, and it’s great to be able to draft him in for the next three months.”