Flanker John Hardie has committed his future to Newcastle Falcons by signing a new two-year deal with the Kingston Park club.
The 16-times-capped Scotland flanker joined the Falcons at the end of October, the former Edinburgh man having spent the summer training with French giants Clermont.
Starting for the Falcons in their Gallagher Premiership victories over Harlequins and Bath during November, his tough tackling and breakdown expertise have quickly made him an important ingredient of the club’s forward pack.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Newcastle Falcons for giving me the opportunity of playing here in the first place,” said the 30-year-old, who broke through with Southland and the Highlanders in his native New Zealand before moving to Scotland in 2015.
“I’m enjoying playing in the Gallagher Premiership, it’s a new competition to me and something I’d always wanted to have a crack at.
“The lads have been great in terms of how they’ve welcomed me to the club, the set-up here is enjoyable and despite our current league position I’ve got absolute full confidence that we have the quality and mind-set to pull ourselves up the league.”