Newcastle Falcons sign scrum-half Sam Egerton

England Sevens scrum-half Sam Egerton has agreed to join Newcastle Falcons from next season.

The 24-year-old. Newcastle's third signing for the 2016-17 campaign, made his World Series debut for England in Singapore earlier this month after a spell playing for Harlequins.

Egerton, who previously played for Yorkshire Carnegie, joined Quins as back-up for Karl Dickson and scored one try in two games for the club - he has also played on four Varsity Match-winning sides for Oxford University.

"I have heard lots of good things about Newcastle Falcons and the city in general," Egerton told the Falcons website.

"It is a club which has a soul of its own, I want to experience that and it seems a good fit for me with the brand of rugby they play. I like the idea of playing on a fast track up there, it suits my game and this is an exciting move.

"I would say I'm more of a running No 9, and I like to be a threat around the fringes. I will be working hard on my skill set moving back to 15s after a year in sevens, because the role of the scrum-half is different between the two, but I will try and bring a high-tempo game with me. I can't wait to get started."

Director of rugby Dean Richards added: "Sam is an exceptional player.

"He boasts strong decision-making ability, has a good break on him and knows his way to the try-line. He will be a good addition to our squad, which already has a successful former England Sevens player in the form of Marcus Watson."

Newcastle have also added Leicester winger Vereniki Goneva and Jersey prop Sam Lockwood to their squad.