NEWCASTLE Falcons could lose three of their biggest names before the end of the month after Jamie Noon and Tom May joined team-mate Jonny Wilkinson in the queue to defect to France.

Wilkinson is expected to complete a move to Super 14 side Toulon this summer, but the England fly-half is unlikely to be the only Falcon crossing the channel before the start of next season.

May is understood to be in advanced talks about joining Wilkinson at Toulon, while Noon is on the verge of joining Brive after making more than 240 senior appearances for Newcastle.

Falcons have already lost the services of skipper Phil Dowson, England Saxons prop David Wilson and highly- rated back rower Geoff Parling, and a further triple defection from the backs would leave the club in a precarious position as they plan for next season.

The loss of May would be a particularly bitter blow as the 30-year-old has emerged as an impressive stand-in fly-half in recent weeks.

With Wilkinson having been sidelined since September, and both Rory Clegg and Rob Miller lacking experience, May has filled the number ten shirt with aplomb, and his departure would leave Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates seriously short of flyhalves.

It would also rob him of one of the club’s most versatile attackers, with May also having played at centre, wing and full-back this season.

Noon would arguably be an even bigger loss, as the centre became Newcastle’s only established England international after Mathew Tait and Toby Flood both left the North-East last summer.

The 29-year-old, who joined Falcons in 1998 after graduating from Northumbria University, has been one of Newcastle’s most consistent players this season.

However, he is understood to have agreed to join Brive, and a deal is expected to be confirmed in the next two weeks once personal terms have been finalised.

Newcastle will receive a transfer fee for both May and Noon, and chairman Dave Thompson will come under intense pressure to make the money available to Bates for replacements.

Falcons completed their first summer signing last week when London Irish lock James Hudson signed, but four or five more new arrivals will be necessary if the club is to build on its impressive rally in the second half of the current campaign.

Another contract renewal was confirmed yesterday, with scrum-half Hall Charlton having signed a new twoyear deal at Kingston Park.

Durham-born Charlton has made 176 appearances for Falcons since progressing through the club’s Academy system.

“Hall is a vastly experienced performer at Guinness Premiership level, who continues to work incredibly hard at his game,” said Bates.

“He is a local lad who knows what it means to represent his region’s team, and we look forward to having him on board for at least the next two years.”