FALCON power is helping to attract young rugby talent in the North-East.

Members of the region's premier team, Newcastle Falcons, are passing on coaching tips to youngsters on local development programmes.

Among the clubs helping to develop the Falcons of the future is Chester-le-Street RFC.

The Durham and Northumberland Division Three club welcomed Falcon forwards Ritchie Arnold and James Isaacson to Saturday's junior training session at Chester-le-Street Riverside.

The youngsters will have the chance to earn a place at the Falcons' academy.

Club schools liaison officer Paul Kirsopp said: "There is a good link with the Falcons and junior sections like our own, here at Chester-le-Street.

"We take some of the age group teams up to Newcastle to play tag competitions on Falcons' match days with the incentive of playing on the pitch at Kingston Park during the half-time if we get through to the final.

"We run teams from under-12s to under-16s. There's a development programme which comes in from under-13s onwards, and then the players can go into district teams, on to academy level and Falcons' academy."

Youngsters are welcome to the Riverside for the weekly training, on Saturdays, from 10am until noon.

For details, call 0775 247 1410.