Josh Beaumont is the latest rising star to sign a deal with Newcastle Falcons, ahead of the new Aviva Premiership season.
Son of rugby legend Bill Beaumont, the 19-year-old second rower will be looking to follow in his father’s footsteps, as he embarks on a career with the Kingston Park club.
Beaumont, who already has an impressive CV having been capped by both the Barbarians and England Counties, is said to be relishing the challenge of playing for the North-East’s premier rugby club. Following his stint with Durham University at the Middlesex 7’s on Saturday, the 6’ 7” 17st 2lb athletic forward will join up with his new teammates at the end of July.
Described as a “powerful athlete” and an “intelligent player” by assistant academy coach Mark Laycock, Beaumont will continue playing for his local club Fylde whilst learning his trade for the Falcons. “Josh played most of his junior rugby at fly-half for Arnold School in Lancashire so he is very adept with ball in hand,” said Laycock.
He added: “He moved to No.8 and more recently second row before relocating to the North-East to study Geography at Durham University. He is a Fylde RFC boy through and through and won the national BUCS Championships this season with Durham University. He is a powerful athlete, who is intelligent in the lineout and confrontational in the contact area. Josh will join up with the Falcons first team squad outside of term time to train because his university commitments take priority at the moment.”
Fylde head coach Mark Nelson is delighted for Beaumont, saying: “Josh is a young player with a great deal of potential. He’s developed through school and with Alan Holmes at the Fylde core he has made a big contribution to the club winning the National 2 Championship last season. I am delighted that the Falcons have taken him on board and I am sure that under their expert tuition he will make real progress. This is a great example of Premiership clubs working positively with National League clubs and universities to develop young English players with real potential.”