Club profile: Newcastle

Pat Lam has joined Newcastle from Northampton

Newcastle's superb academy programme looks set to reward them with a highly profitable season.

The club boast arguably the most exciting group of young players in England - Jamie Noon, Dave Walder and Michael Stephenson, among others - and all that fresh-faced talent will be harnessed this season by former Falcons favourite Pat Lam.

Gary Armstrong's sniping runs and high kicks are still a potent attacking weapon for the Falcons' back-line, with the former Scotland captain firmly focussed on the club game after retirement from the international arena.

The last few years have served as a transitional phase for the post-John Hall Falcons.

But the young players are now in place for them to find some consistency in selection, and develop an expansive style of play which is less reliant on one or two star players.

Facts and figures:

Ground: Kingston Park
Coach: Rob Andrew
Captain: Pat Lam
Last season: 6th

Players in: Pat Lam (Northampton).

Players out: Ross Beattie (Bristol), Allen Chilten (Caerphilly), Jim Jenner (Worcester), Howard Quigley (Coventry), Jimmy Rule (released), Jimmy Cartmel (released), Ross Cook (released), Ross Nesdale (retired).