Darlington Mowden Park will be showing a strong Newcastle Falcons influence when they open their season with a Powergen Cup tie at home to Kendal on Saturday.

The link between the clubs has been strengthened during the summer, with Mowden using former Newcastle captain Richard Arnold as a player-coach and registering all the Falcons Academy members to play for them.

There is also a good chance they will be able to call on centre Martin Shaw, who is back with Newcastle after a spell with Sale and one year with Bristol.

Shaw is not contracted, but was taken on partly in case Jamie Noon and David Walder were in the World Cup squad. Now that they are not, he could be available for Mowden sooner rather than later.

But he will not be needed initially as Mowden have signed David Richardson and Sandy Mitchell following their release by the Falcons.

Mitchell played a couple of games for the National Division Three North side at the end of last season, while Richardson, a former Stockton fly half, is fully fit after missing last season following a cruciate operation.

Whether or not Mowden ultimately amalgamate with Darlington, the aim is to support the Falcons by having a North-East team in National Division One.

Mowden have retained former West Hartlepool hooker Stuart Whitehead as head coach and Kevan Oliphant will look after the backs now he has retired from playing. Newcastle Academy bosses John Fletcher and Peter Walton will also have an input.

Training so far has been one night a week at Yiewsley Drive and one at Newcastle with the Academy boys.

"We are introducing a more comprehensive approach to playing rugby while allowing Mowden Park to continue being a lively club with a good social side, as it always has been," said club chairman John Parkinson, who is also the Falcons' chief executive.

"We have a commitment to the Falcons to work with them and see if we can gain National One status.

"There has been a debate at Kingston Park about the Falcons' role in the North-East and it was felt that the infrastructure of rugby in the region could be stronger.

"It would help to have a team in National One, and it didn't necessarily have to be Mowden. Tynedale, Blaydon and even Kendal were considered, plus Darlington now they are in National Three North.

"Because of Mowden's recent progress, and with a change of premises in the pipeline, it was felt we have a group of people who may be open to more change.

"There were initially some misgivings among the members, but we had a well-attended open evening then an extraordinary general meeting, at which the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of establishing the formal relationship."

Mowden's plans to move to West Park, Faverdale, near the A1/A68 intersection, have been held up by a revision of the master plan for the site to incorporate a school.

Mowden's site would move to the west of the spine road and would include three pitches and training areas, plus a glass and steel clubhouse.

The facilities could be ready in two years, but while the new plan awaits approval, Mowden are taking the opportunity to talk to Darlington.

"The opportunity to look at another option came out of the blue," said Parkinson. "I'm open-minded about it, but we have to look at what's best for rugby.

"There's a dearth of rugby talent, and with the huge overlay of administration from the RFU there might not be enough people who can tackle the complex issues which help clubs along.

"If things didn't work out for both clubs it would be a damning indictment to look back in 15 years and regret not exploring the possibility of joining forces.

"The candour and friendliness of the talks so far have been superb. Both clubs' members will have their say before any decisions are taken."