Fly-half Connon extends Newcastle stay

Fly-half Brett Connon has played 106 games for Newcastle Falcons

Brett Connon has signed a new two-year contract to remain at Newcastle Falcons.

The fly-half will stay at Kingston Park until 2026.

The Carlisle-born player, 27, has played 106 games and scored 523 points so far in his Newcastle career.

“I came here as a real youngster but I’ll be one of the older heads next season, so hopefully I’ll be able to bring some leadership and experience as well as pushing on with developing my own game," he said.

He told the club's website: “We’ve got a good core group of boys who have been here for a long time and want this club to change for the better, and it’s brilliant to be a part of that."

With one match remaining of the current Premiership season, Newcastle are bottom and have lost every single match.

There is a big rebuilding job ahead of the next campaign under consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond, with Connon set to be at the heart of it.

"He’s a local lad who has been here since the age of 13 or 14," said Diamond.

"I want people like Brett to stay with us because that’s how you properly build a club, and it’s great that he’s committed to the Falcons for another two seasons."

While Connon prepares to be part of the Falcons' future, it has now been confirmed that Argentina international Matias Orlando will move to Miami Sharks in the USA's Major League Rugby competition.

Centre Orlando, 32, had already announced that he was leaving Newcastle at the end of the season after four years in the north east.