NEWCASTLE Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards has no qualms about Saturday's facilities as Newcastle Falcons face Nottingham at Darlington Mowden Park's Northern Echo Arena.

The largest dedicated club rugby ground in England was the training base for eventual champions New Zealand during last year's Rugby World Cup, and within the past month has hosted both Newcastle United and Sunderland football clubs.

Richards visited the 25,000-capacity venue this week as the Falcons prepare for Saturday's 3pm kick-off, the Newcastle boss declaring himself impressed with the stadium and playing surface.

He said: "The pitch is looking fantastic, the stadium is brilliant and obviously Darlington is not too far from Newcastle. It is only an hour down the road, so we’re looking forward it."

Darlington's arena has hosted the Falcons on one previous occasion, back in 2014 when the Premiership 7s were moved there due to the installation of Newcastle's artificial pitch.

Richards said: "The facilities really are fantastic at Darlington Mowden Park. For us this game is about getting down here and making the most of the day and the occasion."

Tickets for Saturday's game are priced £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s by calling the Falcons' box office on 0871 226 6060. Tickets are also available both in advance and on the day via Darlington Mowden Park.

The Falcons are also in action this Sunday when they head to Coventry on Sunday for the

Singha Premiership Rugby 7s finals day.

And Tom Catterick, a Premiership 7s winner with Newcastle back in 2011, was part of the Falcons squad who won their group during Saturday’s home tournament at Kingston Park Stadium. Turning their impressive group form into success on the national stage has not always proven easy, as the player himself admits.

He said: “The finals over the years have been different from the qualifiers, for a few reasons. Firstly, because squads can change a lot. Injuries, first-team call-ups and things like that can sometimes mean a totally different squad going down to the finals.

“Stability is a big asset if you can keep largely the same group, and then the other obvious difference is you are playing against better teams. You are meeting the sides who have won or been runners-up in their groups, the standard is higher and the intensity of the games reflects that.”

Newcastle will meet Welsh side Ospreys in the quarter-finals at the Ricoh Arena, Catterick saying his squad will approach the match with clear heads after a far-from-perfect showing last weekend.

He said: “We certainly won’t go down to Coventry with any cockiness because the qualifier brought a few reality checks for the lads. In the first game against Sale we went 12-0 down, and then we went and lost our next game against Worcester. We said in the changing room after the match that it just wasn’t acceptable, and we did see a bit of a pick-up in our last match against Leicester.”

Tickets for Sunday’s Singha 7s finals are priced £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. To book go to www.wasps.co.uk/tickets .