Tim Cardall to join Newcastle Falcons

Melbourne Rebels lock Tim Cardall will join Newcastle Falcons this summer on a two-year deal.

The 26-year-old Englishman is currently playing in Super Rugby for the Australian franchise, having spent four seasons with Wasps.

Cardall, who stands at 198cm (6 feet 6) and 121kg (19 stone), insists he is excited by the prospect of joining the Falcons, saying: “Newcastle is a great city and it’s somewhere I’m really looking forward to moving to.

“I have played at Kingston Park a few times for a number of teams and I know it’s a hard place for an opposition to come, so I’m looking forward to being on the other side of that.

“As a club I was really impressed with how Dave Walder and the other coaches presented it to me. They are a team that play with a lot of physicality and have a very good set piece, and this is what excited me about moving to the Falcons.

“To have the opportunity to work with guys like Scott MacLeod as a line-out coach is something I’m also really looking forward to.”

Cardall played for England Under-18s and began his professional rugby journey in Northampton Saints’ senior academy, going on to spend two seasons at Nottingham while studying for a sports science and coaching degree at Nottingham Trent University.

During this time he played in the same England Students side as future Newcastle team-mates Ben Stevenson and George Wacokecoke, with his current stint in Australia seeing him being coached by former Falcons, England and Lions lock Geoff Parling.

Cardall becomes the Falcons’ third new signing for next season following last week’s announcement of Scottish pair Kiran McDonald and Murray McCallum.