Newcastle Falcons back rower Peter Browne believes director of rugby Steve Bates has assembled a squad with a genuine strength in depth.

Browne, 21, has emerged as a regular player in Bates' new look side and feels additions such as Gcobani Bobo and Jimmy Gopperth have added quality.

"We've are a well-balanced team," he told BBC Look North.

"The pack has come on an awful lot, and we've still got fantastic backs, we've got a lot of pace and finesse."

Browne has played in three of the Falcons' four matches so far this season, completing a full 80 minutes on the opening day against Leeds.

We really do want Kingston Park to be a fortress Peter Browne

Meanwhile Saracens are up next at Kingston Park on Sunday, a ground where Falcons are yet to lose this season.

And Browne says their home form is crucial in building up the north east as a tough place for opposition teams to visit.

"Hopefully it won't be breached, we really do want this to be a fortress where people come up north and we make it a difficult place to come,"

"We want to make it a place where the crowd, which has been brilliant, gets behind us and we can get a lot of victories at home."

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