Newcastle Falcons sign Darren Barry

Newcastle Falcons have announced the signing of Worcester Warriors lock Darren Barry, who will arrive in the summer. The 6 foot 6 second rower, 29, joins after four seasons at Sixways.

Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Darren is a player I have watched and admired for some time now, and he will help bring a real abrasive edge to our forward play.

“He offers size and physicality in the engine room, he is an experienced performer who goes very well at the front of the line-out and I’m excited about what he can add to the group.

“Darren is in the slightly unusual position of helping Worcester to battle for their Gallagher Premiership status in competition with the team he will be joining, but he is a great professional and will rightly continue to give his absolute best during the remaining time he has there.”

A captain of Filton College in his schoolboy days, Barry represented England Under-19s and began his professional rugby journey with his native Bristol, moving to Cornish Pirates before joining Worcester in the summer of 2015.