Tight-head prop Mark Tampin has become Newcastle Falcons’ latest signing ahead of the 2019-20 season, the Ealing Trailfinders prop joining on a two-year deal.
Tampin, 27, was born in London but began his professional rugby career in Yorkshire, coming through Leeds Carnegie’s academy and going on to make his name as a regular for Rotherham Titans.
Moving to Jersey Reds for the 2016-17 season where he played alongside current Falcons players Gary Graham and Sam Lockwood, Tampin has spent the last two seasons at Ealing Trailfinders, who this season won the Championship Cup as well as finishing second in the Championship title race.
SIGNING: Newcastle Falcons have completed the signing of Ealing Trailfinders tight-head prop Mark Tampin on a two-year deal https://t.co/kgGAM9HRVu pic.twitter.com/9uJXE1E6SF
— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) May 21, 2019
“I’ve been trying to get to a club like this for a while now and I just want to make it count,” said Tampin, who will arrive in July for the start of pre-season.
“Newcastle Falcons are a big club, everyone knows the name and they have a well-established reputation. People know the Falcons had a massive year last year, and even though a bit of luck has been against them this time round they’ve still got everything in place to bounce back.
“I know quite a few of the lads already because of my time at Rotherham when a number of the Falcons boys came down on loan. I also know Sam Lockwood and Gary Graham pretty well from our time at Jersey, and Newcastle’s forwards coach Micky Ward used to come down to Rotherham and coach the front-row when I was there.
“I suppose that means I’ve got the inside track and I have a decent idea of what to expect, but it’s a great move and I can’t wait to get up there.”