JONNY Wilkinson has been cleared to resume full training today, but confusion surrounds what part he can play in Newcastle Falcons' Guinness Premiership opener at Sale on Friday evening.

A row is rumbling over the 11-week rest period England players are supposed to take, with those who went on the Lions tour expected to take more time off.

Newcastle's Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, said: "My understanding of the rest period is that Jonny can play half a game on Friday. If he is fit and is selected in the squad we will have to see how it pans out."

Wilkinson missed both games on the Japan tour with a grumbling appendix, which has been controlled with medication. But Andrew said if it flared up again the medics might decide an operation is necessary.

Former Australia Test forward Owen Finegan is out for at least two weeks with a knee problem, but Andrew was pleased with two of his other forward signings in Saturday evening's 32-11 win against Glasgow at Kingston Park.

"The scrum was very solid with Tino Paoletti and Andy Perry both proving themselves after coming up from division one," he said.

"The breakdown area was contested just as it would be in a Premiership game and the backs looked pretty incisive and showed a good range of skills.

"If you had offered me that performance and that scoreline with no injuries before the game I would have taken it. On the back of our week in Japan we are really pleased."

The Falcons led 15-6 at half-time through tries by Tom May and Jamie Noon, plus a penalty and conversion by Dave Walder. Further tries came from flanker Phil Dowson, full back Matt Burke and winger Anthony Elliott on his home debut.

* Blaydon completed their pre-season preparations with a 59-24 win against division two club Harrogate, helped by an outstanding performance from new flanker Ed Thorp, last season's Northumberland captain, who has joined from Otley.

Further back row strength has been added through Samoan international Patrick Segi, while his brother Sou, a centre, has also joined.

Other new signings include two locks in David Whitehead (ex-Orrell, Penzance and Castres) and Paul Clark, who played for Harrogate last season and is now stationed at RAF Boulmer.

Centre Martin Shaw has joined from Darlington Mowden Park, Croatian-born prop Ivan Nola from Beverley and flanker Paul Brady from Nuneaton.

Among those who have left are centre Pete Kilburn, who has gone to work in Manchester, and winger David Grand, who has returned to Horden.