Toby Flood returns to Newcastle

Toby Flood will be returning to Newcastle this summer after agreeing Toulouse a year early.
The 60-times-capped England fly-half spent the last three seasons playing in the Top14 following six years with the Leicester Tigers.
But after nine years on the road, the 31-year-old will return to Kingston Park where he made his professional debut back in 2005.
He said: “When the opportunity came onto the table it didn’t take long for me to make the decision
“It really feels like I’m coming home, and I’ve watched a fair amount of Newcastle’s games in recent months.
“The reality is that they didn’t have to do much of a sales pitch because the improvements at the club are obvious to see, and with the recruitment they have put in place it was too exciting a proposition to turn down.”
Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards commented: “Toby is a proven performer at the very top level, he is a local lad and it is a huge boost for us to be able to add a player of his quality to our squad.
“He has vast leadership experience, he will bring an extra dimension to our game and this really is a signing which outlines the ambition we have to rise even further up the Premiership table.
“We have quality players coming through our academy and a number of major new signings joining us. All the signs are really positive for next season and it is a hugely exciting time to be involved with the club.”
Flood becomes the Falcons’ tenth confirmed signing for next season, following the previously-announced arrivals of DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets), Josh Matavesi (Ospreys), Maxime Mermoz (Leicester Tigers), Ryan Burrows (Yorkshire Carnegie), Sam Stuart (Richmond), Sami Mavinga (Lyon), Joel Matavesi (Redruth), Tevita Cavubati (Worcester Warriors) and Gary Graham (Jersey).