TOM Biggs intends to make the most of his Kingston Park return tomorrow when the former Newcastle Falcons wing lines up for England Saxons against Scotland A.
The Yorkshireman spent the 2009-10 season in Falcons colours following Leeds’ relegation, and has since gone on to be a hit under ex-Newcastle boss Gary Gold at Bath.
Biggs was part of the Saxons team which defeated Irish Wolfhounds in Galway last week, saying: “It feels nice to be back in Newcastle.
“It hasn’t been strange at all. We have been back in the gym at Kingston Park, training at Druid Park and in many respects it feels like I never left the place.
“Newcastle is a great part of the world and I loved my time in the North East, so getting the Saxons game up here is great news for the region and those of us lucky enough to be involved in the squad.”
Touching down two tries in 16 league outings and a further one from his six European appearances, the 28-year-old said: “I really enjoyed my time at the Falcons, and the fans up here gave us great support.
“Even when I have played against Newcastle for Bath they have been good to me, and hopefully a few of those guys will be down for the Saxons game getting behind the lads.”
Recalling one of many recent turbulent seasons for the club, Biggs added: “It was a weird season in a way, but one that I really enjoyed.
“There were some tough times during parts of it, but we finished fairly strongly and were ninth at the end.
“The game at Sale sticks out for me when we guaranteed our safety with a bonus-point victory, and winning away at Bath earlier in the campaign was another good one to remember. I do stay in touch with some of the guys at the club, and the chance to go back there this week has been brilliant.
“Like most people who have a connection to the place I was bitterly disappointed they couldn’t retain their Premiership status last year, but I have huge admiration for what they are doing and I hope to see them back in the top flight next season.”
Turning attention towards the more immediate prospect of tomorrow’s cross-border clash with Scotland A, he said: “Hopefully we can be a little more organised than we were in beating Ireland last week, largely on the back of the better preparation time we have had.
“Going to Galway we didn’t get in all the training we had wanted to, which showed on the night, but we are getting used to the players around us now and becoming more organised.
“Scotland A haven’t played any games yet so from that point of view there hasn’t been much to analyse, but we know the guys we will be playing against and what they can bring.
“They had a great result against the Saxons this time last year in beating us heavily in Galashiels, and they will be a good, organised side.
“It will be the same for them as it is for us with guys wanting to impress and earn Test selection, so it should be a good game and I am looking forward to it.”
Despite no current Falcons being in the Saxons squad there will at least be some Newcastle representation in the game with prop-forward Grant Shiells named on the bench.
Shiells’ selection renders him ineligible for England, for whom he qualifies on ancestral grounds, as does the inclusion of ex-Newcastle lock Tim Swinson in the Scottish starting XV.
Falcons prop Scott Wilson could make his England Under-20s debut after being named on the bench for tomorrow’s match against Scotland in Plymouth.






