Beattie has relished his return to the Falcons despite injury

Newcastle Falcons back-rower Ross Beattie has agreed a new one-year contract at Kingston Park.

Having spent most of last season recovering from a shoulder injury, the 30-year-old Scot is hoping to make an impact in the first team next term.

"I'm delighted to be staying at Newcastle," Beattie said.

"After a tough year of rehab and work in the gym it was great to finally get back out on the pitch. I am hungry for more."

Beattie's return to the Falcons first team came in the win against Leicester toward the end of the campaign.

Beattie, who rejoined the club last summer from Border Reivers, admitted he was relieved to return to action with the club where he began his career after missing most of the season through injury.

"I have had a time away from the Falcons since my first spell here, and as they say you don't know what you've got until it's gone," he said.

I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running when the new campaign comes round Newcastle Falcons' Ross Beattie

"That was definitely the case with Newcastle, but now I have this second chance and I'm determined to take it.

"In a sense the season has finished at the wrong time for me, just as I was getting back in to the games, but with a full summer of training under my belt I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running when the new campaign comes round."

Meanwhile, Falcons Rob Miller and Alex Tait have both been named in England's squad for the IRB Under-20 World Cup, to be held in Wales next month.

Both players will form part of an England squad coached by Nigel Redman and Mark Mapletoft.