Newcastle Falcons have today confirmed that Will Welch will continue as club captain for a fourth consecutive.
Welch, 25, first took on the role of captain in 2012 at the outset of the Falcons’ Championship winning season and has continued to lead the team throughout their subsequent Aviva Premiership charges.
A product of the Falcons’ Academy system, Newcastle-born Welch signed his first professional contract with the club in 1990 and has gone on to make 144 competitive appearances for the club in the fourteen seasons at Kingston Park Stadium.
Speaking of today’s announcement, Falcons Head Coach John Wells said:
“We’re delighted that Will wants to take on the club captaincy again. He’s been with the Falcons since he started to get involved with professional rugby and has had to ride some tough times with the club.
“Going down to the Championship was hard for the club and was hard for him, but then he’s had to deal with two years in the Premiership afterwards which again, have been tough.
“But Will has helped keep the squad together and he has done a remarkable job, keeping calm and bringing a balance to the whole thing behind the scenes.”
Speaking of the decision to once again award the captain’s arm band to the Openside Flanker, Wells continued:
“It was a bit of a no brainer, he has the club at heart and is passionate about the club; he is the guy that is going to say get up and follow me.
“We know we’re going to have to scrap for points here there and everywhere, and we want scrappers, and Will is the ideal man to take us through this next season.”
Having led his team to victory against the Georgian national side at Kingston Park Stadium last Friday Welch’s team are next in action this Sunday against Sale Sharks in the Kings of the North competition.