Walder gets set to cap his momentous arrival

But today the 22-year-old will announce his arrival as one of the country's most promising young players when he lines-up for the Falcons in their Tetley's Bitter Cup final clash with Harlequins at Twickenham.

Walder's rise up the ranks has been so rapid that in only a few months he has developed from virtual unknown to arguably the second best outside-half in the country.

And the Newcastle-born playmaker, who only became a full-time professional in June last year, is as amazed at his quick-fire progression as anyone.

''At times I have to pinch myself so that I know it's really happening,'' he said.

''Things just keep coming at me. If you'd asked me six months ago what my ambitions were, I'd have said my goal was to secure a place in the squad. I would have been happy with that.

''Now I'm playing in a Cup final and I can't wait. It's going to be a really big day - the biggest day of my rugby career.''

Walder is a product of Newcastle's highly-effective youth policy which has uncovered a wealth of talent from the North-East.

A natural footballer with pinpoint kicking skills, Walder was spotted while playing for Durham University and was then carefully nurtured at the Kingston Park academy under the watchful eye of Falcons' director of rugby Rob Andrew.

He is just one of a whole battery of young guns assembled by Andrew to have grabbed the headlines in recent months.

But according to the Newcastle-born starlet, their passage into domestic rugby's top flight was not always an easy one.

''We've got a lot of young guys who have come up through the ranks together,'' he said.

''When the World Cup was on two years ago and some of the senior players were away, we were getting beaten by 50 points every week.

''That was hard to take but it's obviously paid dividends this year. We've had the hard times but hopefully those are behind us now.''

Walder admits he would like to be starting at fly-half today but the presence of Jonny Wilkinson in the Falcons' ranks ensures he will have to settle for the full-back's jersey.

''I'd rather play outside-half but at the end of the day you can't really complain when you've been playing in a successful team,'' said Walder, who claimed a record-equalling 32-point haul against Saracens last November.

''Jonny is obviously first choice at fly-half and I can understand that. He's done brilliantly for us and England.

''I've taken his place when he's been playing for England and have only started playing full-back since Christmas.

''But I'll play anywhere just to be a part of the side, so full-back is still great. I'm just happy to be in the team.

''There's a lot of competition at the club. It's friendly to a point but ultimately everyone wants to play - you'd be mad if you didn't. The reason you play this game is for occasions like this."

l England stars Will Greenwood and Jonny Wilkinson have been identified as the Twickenham dangermen.

Club duties, rather than Test match commitments, take centre stage for the Six Nations heroes this weekend.

Twickenham-based Quins, with eight-times Bath cup winner Richard Hill at the coaching helm alongside Mark Evans, find themselves literally crossing the road for a first final appearance since 1993.

And Newcastle are seeking cup glory for the North-East, 24 years after Gosforth last managed it, courtesy of a 27-11 victory over Waterloo.

Greenwood's memorable Millennium Stadium try hat-trick against Wales three weeks ago underlined a rich vein of form and confirmed his rugby rejuvenation since rejoining Quins from Leicester last summer.

Wilkinson though, commanded all the headlines just six days ago, posting a Six Nations record 35 points as Italy were crashed 80-23 to an outstanding England side.

With both players currently on fire, alarm bells have been ringing in opposition camps.

''Will Greenwood is a real danger to us,'' said Falcons wing Tuigamala.

As for Wilkinson, Quins chief executive Evans added: ''He is world-class. He is the best fly-half England have produced for decades.