Falcons swoop in for two Championship stars

NEWCASTLE Falcons have added a second Championship player to their ranks for next season by signing Coventry scrum-half, Josh Barton.

With Louis Schreuder off to Bath in the summer, the Falcons were short of a No.9 and their latest bit of bargain-hunting has taken them to the Butts Park Arena.

The former Millfield

School pupil, who was once a member of Bristol’s academy, cut his teeth in the Championship at London Scottish.

After four years at the Richmond Athletic Ground, the 24-year-old moved to Coventry in February 2021.

Barton, right, has impressed this season with his running threat, scoring eight tries in 20 league appearances.

He will now hope to provide Michael Young, Sam Stuart and Cameron

Nordli-Kelemeti with competition for the No.9 jersey at Kingston Park.

Barton will join Doncaster lock, Josh Peters, in stepping up from the Championship.

After signing a two-year deal, it is thought Peters has the chance to become the first Spanish international to play Premiership rugby since Sale and Northampton wing, Oriol Ripol.

Peters, 26, was an integral part of the Knights team that gave Ealing a real run for their money in the Championship title race, playing in all bar two league games.

Having grown up in Marbella, Peters returned to the UK to attend Oundle School just under a decade ago and was part of Northampton Saints’ academy.

However, Peters’ links to Spain remain strong and he has won nine caps for

Los Leones, the last coming in March 2021.

In addition to Saints, the towering 6’8, 18st 5lbs lock has previous playing experience in English club rugby with Cambridge RUFC and Coventry but joined the Knights from third-tier French club, Stade Dijonnais. Now Newcastle are hoping that Peters can cut the mustard in the Premiership and be another example of how well the Championship develops players, particularly those in the tight five.

“It’s a great opportunity to go up a level and challenge myself in a Premiership environment,” Peters said.

“It’s exciting to be making the move, and through hard work and learning I’ll look to push for a place.”

Newcastle’s highest-profile signing to date is Bath fly-half Tian Schoeman, a bit-part player at The Rec this season due to a bad knee injury.