GETTING your A-Level results is always a nerve-wracking experience but, for Wolsingham's Mathew Tait, today promises to be particularly fraught.

While most teenagers will be filing into their school office to receive the dreaded sealed envelope, Tait will be on the other side of the Irish Sea preparing for his first full season as a Newcastle Falcon.

The 18-year-old scored a second-half try as the Falcons opened their pre-season campaign with a 32-9 win over Irish side Connacht on Tuesday night, and is expected to feature again when Rob Andrew's side take on Munster on Monday. But, for a brief period this morning, his attention will switch from the training ground to the telephone as he learns of his academic fate.

"I've known for a while that the results were going to be coming out while I was away in Ireland," said Tait, who attended the same Barnard Castle school as his manager and mentor Andrew. "I suppose it's a bit unusual, but everyone's been great at making sure I can find out what's happened.

"It's not quite the same as being there, but I'm sure I'll still feel every bit as nervous as I would if I was going to the school with my mates.

"I was nervous when I made my first-team debut for the Falcons last season and I expect to feel just the same when the phone starts ringing out in Ireland."

Tait is awaiting results in biology, geography and sports science but, whatever happens this morning, the next 12 months will contain rather more sport than science.

After signing his first professional contract with the Falcons in May, the centre has opted to put his university plans on temporary hold to concentrate on his rugby.

"That's the plan at the moment," confirmed Tait. "Hopefully I'll be kept busy with my commitments with Newcastle and combining that with university would be hard.

"It's been a difficult decision because I don't want to put all of my eggs in one basket. I don't want to devote everything to rugby if it means ending up with no qualifications at all.

"As a professional sportsman, you're only ever one injury away from the end of your career.

"I'm looking at it like taking a gap year, and I can reassess the situation at this time next year. A lot of people in my year at school have chosen to take a gap year, although I think I'm the only one that's doing something like this."

Tait will have to dislodge England's Jamie Noon if he is to force his way into his preferred position in the Newcastle side, but he will be winning international honours himself this season after receiving a surprise call-up to the senior academy squad last month.

The pacy runner was representing England's Under-19s earlier this year, but now finds himself rubbing shoulders with the likes of Olly Barkley and Chris Jones despite having played just one game at senior level.

"My first aim has got to be establishing myself at Newcastle," said Tait. "But I've also got international ambitions as well.

"I'm going to be involved in the senior academy this year and that's something that really excites me. I didn't expect to be anywhere near that at this stage in my career, but it's an opportunity I'm desperate to take.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure what it's going to involve but there'll be training days throughout the year and they'll be a great opportunity to get my face known in the England camp."

* Jonny Wilkinson's comeback schedule is set to intensify next week, with two games in six days.

He will feature when Falcons tackle Munster in Limerick next Monday, followed by Pertemps Bees at Kingston Park the following Saturday.

Andrew admitted that Wilkinson's return ''couldn't have gone any better'' following a 40-minute appearance on Tuesday.

''We are extremely satisfied,'' said Andrew. ''Physically, he feels fantastic. Seeing him in training during the past two weeks, you wouldn't have had any concern."