Newcastle continue recruitment drive with Olympic silver medalist

Newcastle Falcons have made their 14th signing ahead of the new season by bringing in two-cap Wales flanker Sam Cross from the Ospreys.

The 30-year-old will arrive at Kingston Park on a two-year deal and will bring a wealth of experience having played over 50 games for the Ospreys and over 100 games on the international sevens circuit for Wales and Great Britain, winning a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A year after his exploits at the Olympics, he earned his two Wales caps against Australia and Georgia in November 2017.

Cross is the latest addition in what has been a seismic summer of change for the Falcons ahead of Alex Codling’s first season in charge.

On his move to the Gallagher Premiership, the Welshman said: “I spoke to Alex earlier in the summer about his plans for Newcastle, which really excited me, and when you combine that with what he helped to achieve over at Oyonnax last season I was keen to link up with him.

“The opportunity to play in the Gallagher Premiership was also a big draw because I’ve loved watching it for years, and it’s a great product.

“I like playing on the artificial pitch so that will really suit me, having a quality surface all year round, and I love a fast game.

“I’ll try and run some angles, pick some good lines, look to offload and get the ball to space, and with my sevens background that open-field running is something I’ll look to bring.

“Speaking to the coaches here they want to play a good brand of rugby, and that’s something that is important to me. To have the opportunity to do that up here at Newcastle is a really exciting prospect.”

Codling added: “Sam is a very dynamic back-rower who has played international rugby at both 7s and 15s.

“His explosive ability will very much suit the way we want to play, he’s a great fit for us and he can thrive in a number of positions right across the back row.”