NEWCASTLE FALCONS will boast another proven top-level try scorer next season after confirming the capture of Canada and Scarlets winger DTH van der Merwe.

The 30-year-old boasts 23 tries in 42 international matches, and has been similarly prolific at club level, plundering 45 tries in the Pro 12, where he won the title with Glasgow in 2015, and claiming a further 12 scores in the European Champions Cup.

Known as DTH, but with a full name of Daniel Tailliferrer Hauman van der Merwe, the flying winger was born in South Africa but moved to Canada with his family as a teenager.

Initially moving to Saracens in 2007 following his Rugby World Cup exploits, he went on to enjoy a successful five-season spell with Glasgow before moving to Welsh side Scarlets.

He will join fellow Canadian international Evan Olmstead in the Falcons’ ranks ahead of the start of next season after agreeing a long-term deal.

“DTH is a top-class finisher who has been doing it on a consistent basis for club and country over a number of years now,” said Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards. “He has played in three Rugby World Cups, has averaged almost a try every other game in the Pro 12 and Europe for the past seven seasons, and is precisely the kind of player who can help this club move up to the next level.

“We are a team who create plenty of try-scoring opportunities but have not always had that ability to finish them off. DTH definitely gives us that, and we look forward to working with him when he joins us ahead of next season.”

Van der Merwe has enjoyed his time in the Pro 12, but had always been desperate to test himself in the Aviva Premiership. An upwardly mobile Newcastle, who could yet find themselves finishing in the top six this season, make an ideal match.

“I’m really excited about this move for a number of reasons,” said van der Merwe. “I have been watching how the last couple of years have seen Newcastle showing a major improvement, and in particular the brand of rugby they are playing. That’s the kind of attacking play people want to watch, and it’s great as a player to be involved with such a fast-paced game on that 3G pitch.

“I have been catching as many of the Falcons’ games as I can recently, and it’s a really entertaining watch. I know there is huge competition in my own area of the team so I am under no illusions about that, and I can only improve as a player being in that kind of company.

“The pace and flair Newcastle are showing right now is creating a lot of opportunities out wide, and hopefully I can get myself on the end of some of those moves. That’s where I see my role predominantly, but I just want to be a good team player and make a contribution to what seems to be a really positive atmosphere up there.”