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Page last updated at 15:03 GMT, Friday, 3 April 2009 16:03 UK

Ward signs new Newcastle contract

Micky Ward
Ward will start for Newcastle at Wasps on Saturday

Newcastle prop Micky Ward has agreed a one-year contract extension and says he wants to end his career at the Falcons.

Ward, 30, has been with Newcastle since the age of 17 and is determined to win a regular place in the Falcons side.

"I haven't played as much as I'd have liked this season, but my future lies here," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I had a couple of other offers to go elsewhere but I want to stay and I want to play for Newcastle. It wasn't a very hard decision."

Ward, who returns to the Falcons' starting line-up after a two-month absence for Saturday's trip to Wasps in the Premiership, insists he does not want to play rugby for anybody else.

"Do I want to be a one-club man? That's not a question for me, it's for the club," the Wallsend-born forward explained.

"If they put a contract in front of me now and said there's a deal until you're 35, I'd sign it now .

"I don't want to go anywhere else and my family don't want to go anywhere else, so that would be an ideal rugby career - to stay at the Falcons all my of my career.

"I was hoping for a three-year contract so I'd be a bit more settled but I got a one-year deal and have to take the positives out of that.

"I'm in employment for another year when a lot of people are losing their jobs and I've got a chance to get more after that.

The lads in my position have been doing really well so I've just got to get out there and show them what I'm made of

Micky Ward on Saturday's game at Wasps

"It's a great platform for me to prove myself and show what I am all about."

Ward has found his path to the first-team blocked by players such as Carl Hayman and Jon Golding this season, particularly since the Falcons have settled on a regular pack.

But Ward is happy to fight for his place and is determined to take his chance against Wasps.

He added: "The last time I was properly involved was the Brive game but when the lads are playing well what can I say about it?"

"If you don't know what's wrong you can't do anything to get back your place. I want feedback to become a better player, so I am always banging on the coaches' door to find out what I have to do to get into the team.

"Now I've got to perform. I keep banging on the door saying 'put me in' but, when I get a chance to get in and I don't perform, I cannot knock on the door anymore can I?

"It's been a few months since I've been in the starting line-up so it's nice to get the call. The lads in my position have been doing really well so I've just got to get out there and show them what I'm made of really.



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see also
Wasps v Newcastle
03 Apr 09 |  English
New arrivals to start for Saxons
06 Jun 06 |  Internationals


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