Brett Connon extends Newcastle Falcons stay

Newcastle Falcons fly-half Brett Connon has pledged his future to the club by signing a new two-year deal.

The 27-year-old has scored 523 points in his 106 games for the club, with consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond delighted to retain the services of the Carlisle native.

“I’m really glad that Brett has decided to stay with us because he did have some other options,” said Diamond.

“I think he’s a good player, he knows how to control a game and he has played a century of matches for the Falcons, scoring a load of points.

“He’s not far off coming into that bracket of being a really good Premiership player if he carries on with the progress he’s showing. His work ethic is great, he’s really communicative on the field and around the training environment, and he’s working hard with his goal kicking.

“You want all of those things from a fly-half, and he’s a local lad who has been here since the age of 13 or 14. I want people like Brett to stay with us because that’s how you properly build a club, and it’s great that he’s committed to the Falcons for another two seasons.”

Connon, who was a Falcons fan in his youth before joining the academy, said: “First things first, this is my home. It’s the team I used to come and watch as a kid and the club I’ve been involved with as a player for more than a decade.

“That’s really important, and then away from rugby I’ve got a young family now with my fiancé Steph and our daughter Nora, who is two months old. Having that stable home life and being close to both sets of parents is great, and it just makes sense from all angles.”

Set to form a key part of the Falcons’ revival under Diamond, Connon added: “I came here as a real youngster but I’ll be one of the older heads next season, so hopefully I’ll be able to bring some leadership and experience as well as pushing on with developing my own game.

“We’ve got a good core group of boys who have been here for a long time and want this club to change for the better, and it’s brilliant to be a part of that.

“It’s been good so far under Dimes, even though results haven’t gone our way. Obviously it’s tough for him coming in mid-season, and we’ll benefit massively from having a full summer under his guidance. There’s a core group here who really care about the place and want to push things forward, and it’s clear that Dimes is in full alignment with that.”