NEWCASTLE Falcons have included several newcomers in their squad for the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham on Saturday.

Among them is Epi Taione, the blockbusting Tongan winger who has been with Tynedale for the last two seasons.

Also included are Jim Jenner, a 6ft 4in back-row man formerly with Worcester, and full back or winger Ross Cook, who hails from North Berwick and spent last season with Northampton.

Cook is highly rated and could have a chance of featuring in Falcons' early Premiership games following the release of full back Stuart Legg and winger Michael Wood.

Rob Andrew's men kick off with two tough home matches, against European champions Northampton on August 20 and Premiership champions Leicester the following Sunday.

The full back position will be up for grabs, especially as former Durham School star Michael Stephenson is suspended for seven matches. Both he and centre Tom May were banned after being sent off while playing for England Under-21s in New Zealand, but Newcastle are awaiting clarification about when the suspensions will end.

The Falcons are currently at a week's training camp in Narbonne, where they are being put through their paces by fitness coach Steve Black, who is back with the club after quitting his post with the Welsh national squad.

It is hoped that Jenner will prove an adequate replacement for Scotland international Peter Walton, who has been forced to retire with a neck problem.

Another back-row man, Steve O'Neill, has returned to Blaydon, where he will help with the coaching after being disappointed with the new contract Newcastle offered him.

Apart from Legg and Wood, who is said to be joining Rotherham in preference to Leeds, hooker Richie Horton was also released.

First-choice hooker Ross Nesdale is back to full fitness after his neck operation, as are Scotland internationals George Graham and John Leslie, who were kept out at the end of last season by shoulder and ankle problems.

England fly half Jonny Wilkinson has also recovered from a minor groin operation after his successful tour of South Africa.

l DURHAM have confirmed the election of Darlington's Bob Jackson as their president for the coming season.

He has been the county's disciplinary secretary for 14 years and hands that role over to another Darlington man, Peter Sanderson.

Former county flanker Kevin Robinson, who played for Darlington and Hartlepool Rovers, joins the selection panel, whose first task is to pick a President's XV to play Horden on August 23 (7pm).

l THE Durham Referees' Society are to hold two roadshows next week to demonstrate the latest law changes.

Anyone interested may attend for a 7.30 start at Hartlepool Rovers on Monday and Gateshead's Eastwood Gardens ground on Tuesday.R

l Edinburgh Reivers chief executive Nick Oswald insists the Heineken Cup will prove to be an even greater test this year.

Last season, the Reivers had their European hopes dashed by eventual winners, Northampton, who scored an emphatic double triumph over the Edinburgh side in the group stages.

In addition to Northampton, Reivers have drawn French Cup holders Biarritz and Irish province Leinster, who did the double over Leicester last season, and who are considered by many to be this season's dark horses