NEWCASTLE FALCONS have re-signed Connor Collett, with the openside flanker having agreed to extend his contract at Kingston Park by another season.

The 25-year-old has made ten first-team appearances for Newcastle since joining from North Harbour, who he represented in New Zealand’s national provincial final.

Seven of those outings have come in the current campaign, with Collett starting Falcons’ early-season wins over Bath, Sale and Wasps.

“I’ve really enjoyed my first three years here,” he said. “I feel I have grown as a player and settled in to the North-East way of life.

“I'm surrounded by some really good guys and am excited to see what another year with the Falcons brings. I hope to keep pushing for a spot in the starting 15, and the game time I enjoyed at the start of the season continues to be a huge motivator for me to keep pushing myself and improving.”

Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards added: “Connor is a very bright player with an outstanding attitude, and I’m delighted he will be remaining with the club. He is in an extremely competitive area of the squad given the wealth of back-row talent we have, but he is very much in the mix and will continue to push hard for selection.”