The Newcastle Falcons have unveiled England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson as their new captain.

Wilkinson has been handed the role on a permanent basis for the 2002-2003 campaign, having led the side towards the end of last season.

"It's something you want to do when you get into the game," he said on BBC TV.

"I'd like to have as influential a role as possible with this team and to gain that now is a great privilege and an honour.

"To be given this responsibility is a great feeling and something I hope I can pay back to the club."

Director of rugby Rob Andrew, who has just signed a new five-year deal to stay with the club, believes they are heading in the right direction.

He said: "I suppose the last wave of the older players moved on at the end of last season with Doddie (Weir), George Graham and Pat (Lam) and Inga (Tuigamala) and Gary Armstrong.

"So we've sort of handed over the baton to the young players.

"This is a squad with an average age of 24, we've made Jonny Wilkinson captain so he's at the helm of the ship.

"We just hope they continue their development and improve at the rate that they have the last two years."