MATHEW Tait is back in the Newcastle Falcons team for tomorrow's televised Premiership match away to leaders Leicester, but fellow England centre Jamie Noon is rested.

With the Six Nations taking a week's break, Leicester include England prop Graham Rowntree and Martin Corry at No 8, but keep Harry Ellis, Lewis Moody and Ireland full back Geordan Murphy on the bench.

One of Newcastle's reasons for resting Noon is that his wife is due to give birth to their first child. Mark Mayerhofler will partner Tait for the first time.

After announcing the arrival next summer of Australian lock Owen Finegan, Director of Rugby Rob Andrew also continues to show that he is prepared to give Academy products a chance by naming lock Geoff Parling in tomorrow's starting line-up.

The 21-year-old local lad came off the bench in the home win against Wasps two weeks ago, but now swaps places with Craig Hamilton.

Toby Flood, 19, stays at full back after his brilliant debut against Wasps, allowing Dave Walder to continue his comeback from knee surgery from the bench.

Winger Ollie Phillips and No 8 Phil Dowson, who have just returned from England Sevens duty in Los Angeles, are also among the replacements. Semo Sititi switches to No 8 with Mike McCarthy returning at blind side.

Player-coach Craig Lee returns for Darlington at home to Macclesfield after sitting out last week's Durham Cup win against West Hartlepool.

He is keen to have Fijian threequarter Koro Niubalavu involved after he made a good impression at centre last week.

"Ben Snook has not let anyone down, so he will probably start," said Lee. "But Koro is strong and quick and can come on either at centre or on the wing.

"We also have a choice to make at prop now that Paul Scott's arrival means we have three very good ones. It's unfortunate one has to sit on the bench, but whoever it is comes on and has an immediate impact."

Hooker Dan Oselton also returns for a match Darlington would love to win against the team who are second in National Three North.

The Cheshire club won only 18-13 at home to Darlington, but have conceded fewer tries than any team in the division with 25.

Darlington Mowden Park visit the Kendal mudbath and will have most of last week's absentees back, although there is a big doubt about lock Ian Robinson.

Newcastle Development prop Ed Kalman, who was also injured during the win at Blaydon, is fit, as is lock Naude Pretorius, scrum half Shaun Richardson and centre Matt Howland.

Skipper Dave Guthrie was due to train with Blaydon last night, but a decision on whether he plays in the home match against Cleckheaton will not be made until just before the game.

Fatu Tulaga returns at prop and Dave Falconer comes in for unavailable lock Jimmy Houghton. Blind side flanker Dave Marwick is also away, so Charlie Roe joins the squad.

Middlesbrough are looking for a second successive win at home to Chester to further ease their relegation worries in North One. But hopes that scrum half Peter Wright would be back have not materialised.

The backs are unchanged, but Mark Kerruish comes in at No 6 for the unavailable Ben Pattinson, while Chris Horton, on the bench last week, swaps places with prop Dale Sawdon.

After the win against Malton and Norton, Stockton's only change for the North Two East match at West Hartlepool sees prop Jon Buddington added to the squad. Danny Muirhead will revert from loose head to hooker with Glyn Delmar dropping to the bench.

* Saracens head coach Steve Diamond has expressed an interest in signing rugby league star Andy Farrell.

The 29-year-old Wigan and Great Britain captain has been in talks with the Rugby Football Union over a possible change of codes.

The RFU have targeted Farrell for his leadership qualities but need to find a Zurich Premiership club willing to take him on to make a deal possible - and Diamond is the first top-flight coach to declare a firm interest.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: ''Andy Farrell will be a fantastic acquisition for any side. When we find out when he's available we will look at it.''

Farrell has spent most of his rugby league career playing at loose-forward and successfully filled in at prop last season, but Diamond believes he would be better deployed in the backs in union.