Balding brought in for his firepower

Jul 2 2008 The Journal

ON the day that they returned for pre-season training, Newcastle Falcons have announced the signing of Gloucester back rower Adam Balding.

The 28-year-old England A international, who captained Gloucester and made 60 appearances during his four seasons at Kingsholm, joins the Falcons on a two-year deal.

A former England Sevens international, Balding also represented his country at Under-16s, 18s and 21s level, before appearing for England A side. Joining Leicester straight from school he made 81 appearances for the Tigers between 1998 and 2003, during which time they won four Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups.

Director of rugby, Steve Bates, said: “Adam is a player I have admired for some time, and I am sure his abrasive style of play and ball-carrying ability will prove popular with our supporters.

“He has been involved with successful teams at Leicester and Gloucester, as well as performing strongly for Leeds on loan last season, and will give us added firepower in what is a vital part of the modern game. He is a player with years of experience at the top end of the Guinness Premiership”

Meanwhile, Falcons pair Jamie Noon and Jonny Wilkinson have both been named in the England Elite Player Squad (EPS) for the 2008/9 season and prop David Wilson has been named in the England Saxons squad, having helped them to Churchill Cup glory in North America last month.

Bates added: “All three players deserve their places in the respective squads, and they will continue to do their country proud when that opportunity comes.”

ENGLAND 32-MAN ELITE PLAYER SQUAD: Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps). Backs: O Barkley (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), P Richards (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale), T Varndell (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

ENGLAND SAXONS: Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), B Kay (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), D Paice (London Irish), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), J Ward (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps). Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)