Walder was stunned by Newcastle's decision to release him

Falcons boss Rob Andrew said he had decided to release him following Jonny Wilkinson's return to fitness and the emergence of youngster Toby Flood.

"I have gone from a massive career highlight of being involved with England to this kick in the teeth.

"It's hard to take," Walder told The Daily Mirror.

Walder, who fears the decision to release him from the last year of his contract could affect his chances of making England's summer tour of Australia, admitted the news had come totally out the blue.

"I got a call to go and see Rob in his office at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning," said Walder, who spent seven seasons at Kingston Park.

"I had no idea what it was about. I walked in and was told my Falcons career was over. It was such a shock.

"Newcastle's view was that, with Jonny fit, I wasn't going to get much rugby next year, therefore they could release me."

While Walder contemplates a future away from Kingston Park, Falcons wing Ollie Phillips has signed a new one-year deal to keep him at the club until the summer of 2007.

The 23-year-old England Sevens wing, a finance graduate who works one day a week with banking group UBS, finished the season strongly after recovering from a broken leg.

"It's great to finally have everything tied up," he said. "I'm happy at Newcastle and never had any thoughts of moving."