DURHAM SCHOOL student Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti has signed a senior academy contract with Newcastle Falcons that will start next season.

Nordli-Kelemeti joins fellow England Under-18 international Josh Hodge in penning a deal with Falcons, who play in the Aviva Premiership.

The duo are currently members of the Falcons’ junior academy, and will train full-time with the club upon completion of their studies this summer with academy manager and first-team skills coach Mark Laycock delighted to see them having earned their first professional deals.

Laycock said: “Both players have featured prominently for us during the Under-18s league this season, and just go to show the talent we have within our region.

“Cameron is a scrum-half of Fijian descent who has been studying at Durham School, he has played for England at Under-18s level and played England sevens in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

“He’s a very gifted ball player and runner who has already played twice for the Falcons in the A-League, and we’re really pleased to have both guys staying on with us.

“Josh is a full-back from South Cumbria who is currently at Sedbergh School, he is an exciting runner with a good kicking game and has been involved with England Under-18s squad on the back of his outstanding form.”

News of the senior academy contracts for Hodge and Nordli-Kelemeti follows on from similar deals being announced for Morgan Passman and Will Montgomery, with Laycock saying: “We have a great crop of players coming through and it’s fantastic for them to be at a club where such a high value is placed on developing our own talent and giving them exposure to senior rugby.”