Alex Tait agrees a new two-year deal with Newcastle

Newcastle full-back Alex Tait has agreed a new two-year contract at Kingston Park.

The deal is a welcome boost to the Falcons following the news Kieran Brookes is leaving to join Northampton in the summer.

The 26-year-old full-back follows homegrown talents Will Welch and Tom Catterick in agreeing new deals at the Premiership club.

Rugby director Dean Richards admits he is pleased to be retaining the majority of the club's local stars, in spite of Brookes' impending departure.

"Alex is another of our talented local contingent and as such it is good that he has chosen to remain with us here at Newcastle and will remain part of what we are looking to build here," he said.

"He has been part of the club since graduating from the academy, has become an integral part of the squad and improves year on year and I am looking forward to seeing that continue."

It has been my club for my whole professional career and being from the area, it is great I am going to be able to continue to pull on that shirt and represent the area.

Tait admitted it was a straightforward decision to sign another deal with his home club.

"It's good to have agreed to stay at Kingston Park for at least two more seasons," he said. "It has been my club for my whole professional career and being from the area, it is great I am going to be able to continue to pull on that shirt and represent the area.

"I am enjoying my rugby and the club has really started to show signs of how it is developing and I think that the next few years are going to be really exciting times to be involved."