‘Get the Attack Fire’ – Newcastle Falcons sign fly half ‘Wilkinson’ from Leicester Tigers

Newcastle Falcons have confirmed the mutual signing of Kieran Wikinson and the winger will join the club at the end of the season. Wilkinson arrives in the North East from Leicester Tigers and has put pen to paper on a one-year deal at Kingston Park.

Wilkinson’s latest outing for Leicester saw the young midfielder lead the way in the Tigers’ 21-13 win over Georgian side Black Lion. This exhibition clash of the big cats was an opportune stage for the 24-year-old to impress and certainly caught the attention of Falcons’ director of rugby consultancy Steve Diamond.

“The players that come here in the first instance are guys that I know and understand how I work,” Diamond said.

“Kieran is worldly wise for his age and although it looks like he hasn’t played much rugby in the last couple of years, you have to remember he’s been learning every day from George Ford at Sale and Handre Pollard at Leicester. He’s been behind world-class twenties and he comes here with a point of view to move on and break into our first team.”

Capped by England at Under-20, Under-18 and Under-16 level, the Kirkham Grammar School graduate has progressed to the top with Sale Sharks under Diamond’s tutelage. Asked what he expects Wilkinson to bring to his reunion, the Falcons boss said:

“Kieran has that hard-working attitude that I look for and is a good player.

“He has a strong kicking game, controls the game and is a good kid. I love what he brings to an environment, I’m really excited to bring him and it’s not a bad surname for a Newcastle fly-half either!”

Relishing the prospect of his move to Newcastle, Wilkinson said: “I’m really excited to be joining Newcastle Falcons.

“It’s a great club, some of my heroes as a kid used to play up there and I’ve always had a soft spot for them. It’s a fantastic city too, so on and off the pitch I’m really excited to get there in the summer and help the club get back to where it should be.”

The fly-half has made six appearances this season for the Tigers, with two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok Handre Pollard occupying the voting position for the No.10 jersey. Wilkinson discussed his limited playing time this year and the impatience his for reps in Falcons colors.

“I haven’t played much rugby because obviously we’ve got Handre Pollard and, as you’d expect from a two-time World Cup winner, he’s nailed the No.10 shirt.

“It’s obviously frustrating in one way because as a player you want to be involved in the games, but at the same time it’s been great learning from him every day in training and seeing how he goes about everything. I feel I will be a better player because I have had this experience and now I have this big challenge at Newcastle to get my teeth into.”