BUCKING the trend of high-profile Kingston Park-bred leavers, Hall Charlton has recommitted to Newcastle Falcons, signing a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old County Durham scrum-half said he was relieved to tie up the new contract, in the wake of salary cap worries and the bite of the credit crunch.

With almost all the Premiership clubs taking a financial hit somewhere along the line this summer, the Falcons are among those to decrease their squad size.

Falcons rugby director Steve Bates has already tied up the futures of key forwards Carl Hayman and Jon Golding, with youngsters Micky Young, Tim Swinson, Alex Tait and Danny Williams all committing, too.

Imposing 6ft 7in London Irish lock James Hudson has already signed for Newcastle, while Super 14-experienced Doncaster back-rower Josh Afu has nearly completed his deal to move north.

The Falcons have also nailed down Phil Dowson’s replacement, pending a medical, and expect to announce that deal later this week.

Captain Dowson has signed for Northampton, lock Geoff Parling is off to Leicester and prop Davey Wilson has signed for Bath.

With Charlton’s Falcons generation about to disband, he had no qualms whatsoever about staying in his native North East.

Jonny Wilkinson is just formalities away from his Toulon move, and Tom May and Jamie Noon are also expected to shift across to France.

Charlton came through the ranks in the same Falcons era as May, Noon and Wilkinson, and he is one of the last of that almost-original brigade who could find themselves at Kingston Park next year.

But despite the ever-changing Falcons squad make-up, Charlton was delighted to secure his future at a club he loves and feels no need to leave. “I love the Falcons and I love living in the North East, so it only makes sense to sign on for more,” said Charlton.