THE Newcastle Falcons have adopted Carmel RC Technology College as part of their schools foster scheme initiative.

The school have been playing rugby for only three years so this is very prestigious honour for Carmel.

As part of the scheme a player is attached to the college for a year to coach the youngsters, with James Isaacson, an England under 21 prop forward becoming Carmel's player.

The Falcons spent a full day in college for coaching sessions with the four teams - Under-12s, Under-13s, Under-14s and Under-15s - as well as working with sixth form A level sports students and GCSE PE students on fitness.

They even brought along the Tetley Bitter Cup for the pupils to see and hold.

The players included the new signing Pat Lam, Isaacson, Danny Brown and Epeli Taione.

They were all very popular and happily signed autographs for the pupils.

PE teacher Simon Hannaford said: "I feel it is very important for Young people to have role models who they can look up to and try to emulate. The Falcons players were superb and thus encouraged several pupils to think about a career in rugby."