Mark Laycock: Falcons coach says side must improve for sevens finals

Newcastle Falcons last won the Premiership Rugby Sevens in 2011.

Coach Mark Laycock says Newcastle Falcons must improve after 'scraping through' the pool stage of the Premiership Rugby Sevens.

Competing on home soil, the Falcons won their group and earned themselves a place in Sunday's finals at the Ricoh Arena.

"There's definitely room for improvement," Laycock told BBC Newcastle.

"We weren't good enough and scraped through by the skin of our teeth."

The Kingston Park outfit will join Northampton Saints, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Wasps, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Sale Sharks in Coventry for the finals on Sunday.

The 33-year old continued: "We've got a bit of thinking to do and a bit of work to do if we want to compete there.

"I think we just need to make sure that what we do in training is applied a little bit better on the pitch next time."

Laycock's side won the Premiership Sevens title for the only time in their history in 2011, but have a good record in the format, having won their home tournament on every occasion they have hosted it.

The Falcons have also lifted the Middlesex Sevens and Melrose 7s titles over the past 10 years.

Former England Sevens international and Falcons fly-half Tom Catterick believes they will have to minimise the errors they make if they are to compete.

"No disrespect to the other teams, they played very well, but I think our ego got the best of us," the 25-year old said.

"A lot of our own mistakes cost us at times. A lot of one on one mis-tackles and sometimes not doing the basics right - those little things make it extra hard for yourselves.

"We need to iron things out before we get down to the finals next week because it's an extra step up from there."