Newcastle announce three new signings

Newcastle have added three further new signings to their squad for next season.

Sale Sharks back Andrew Higgins, Worcester prop Oliver Tomaszczyk and his ex-Warriors colleague Alex Crockett have all agreed two-year deals at Kingston Park.

The trio follow recent new recruits Rory Lawson, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Carlo del Fava and Scott MacLeod, who will all be part of a squad under the direction of former Leicester and Harlequins boss Dean Richards.

Higgins, 30, spent seven seasons with Bath before moving to Exeter and then heading to Edgeley Park, while 25-year-old Tomaszczyk had a two-year stint at Sixways, where Crockett (30) also featured.

Newcastle finished bottom of the Aviva Premiership this term, but their fate now rests on the outcome of the two-legged Championship final between Cornish Pirates and London Welsh.

If Pirates take the title, then Newcastle will stay up as the Penzance-based club did not put themselves forward for the Premiership entry criteria audit.

London Welsh are confident they will meet required demands, although their status has yet to be clarified by the Rugby Football Union or Premiership Rugby.

The first leg is in Cornwall tonight, with Welsh taking the return game to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium next Wednesday.

PA