NEWCASTLE FALCONS are to take a close look at Darlington Mowden Park's leading try scorer Simon Uzokwe next season.

While he is expected to feature in the Falcons' Development XV, Mowden are hopeful that he will also be available for most of their games.

Uzokwe, a powerfully-built Sunderland University student, initially joined Mowden as a prop. He has also played at hooker, but his pace has seen him convert to the back row and the Falcons apparently see him as a potential winger.

He will again be missing from Mowden's team at Coventry on Saturday, when he will be playing for England Students against Ireland in Dublin.

He went on from the bench in the match against France on Saturday evening and scored a late try as England were beaten 30-27.

The Falcons are set to release New Zealanders Ruki Tipuna, a scrum half, and back row Richard Mayhew, who are to join Yorkshire Carnegie.

Mayhew's brother, Michael, a hooker, will also play for the Leeds club, along with another ex-Newcastle man Ollie Stedman.

A powerful No 8, Stedman played for Westoe and Tynedale before a brief stint with the Falcons early in Dean Richards' reign. He has since been with Doncaster.

Carnegie's Newcastle connection has been further strengthened by the arrival of ex-Falcons player and coach, Alan Tait, to assist his former Scotland team-mate Bryan Redpath, the Director of Rugby.