Newcastle have completed the signing of former North Harbour back-row Richard Mayhew for next season.
Back row hoping to further international chances at Newcastle
Newcastle have completed the signing of former North Harbour back-row Richard Mayhew for next season.
The 25-year-old from Auckland will make the switch to the Falcons from Championship outfit Esher.
And Mayhew is hoping his move to Kingston Park will help see him follow the likes of Shontayne Hape, Riki Flutey and Dylan Hartley into the England set-up.
Mayhew, who initially moved to England to join Wasps only for the deal to fall through, told the club's official site: "This is an ambitious club with a lot of quality players so I've just got to contribute to that and go forward.
Excited
"Newcastle showed a lot of interest in me which really excited me and this is an opportunity to play in England and give it a good crack in the Premiership.
"I've got the British passport so anything is possible. My dad was born in England so that makes me a British citizen as well as a Kiwi.
"I'll always see myself as a Kiwi as I was born and bred in New Zealand but I see this as a new start in my life. This is a fresh start and I want to make the most of it.
"I know a lot of the Kiwi boys like Jimmy Gopperth, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Andrew Van der Heijden and Jamie Helleur who recently signed, so that will help me settle in."
Head coach Alan Tait added: "Richard is a great signing for the club and adds a lot of go forward in the forward pack. He's keen as mustard and cannot wait to play for the club."
