Newcastle sign flyhalf Rory Jennings

Rory Jennings has signed a two-year contract with Newcastle Falcons, becoming one of a group of former London Irish players to find a new home this Thursday.

The 27-year-old is a versatile player, capable of playing as a fly-half or centre. He spent the past two seasons with the Exiles after joining from French team Clermont in 2021. Jennings, who was born in London, initially came through the Bath academy and later had a stint at Coventry, where he excelled as a top scorer in the 2020-21 season.

Standing at 176cm (5 foot 9) and weighing 84kg (13 stone 3), he represented England Under-20s in the 2015 Junior World Championship final against New Zealand.

Last season, Jennings made 19 appearances for London Irish, with 11 in the Gallagher Premiership and four in the Heineken Champions Cup. Newcastle Falcons’ head coach, Alex Codling, expressed his delight at having Jennings join the team.

“First and foremost I’m really excited to be joining Newcastle Falcons and to be given the opportunity,” said Jennings. “I want to get stuck in straightaway and contribute to the group, but of course it would be remiss of me not to mention the recent events at London Irish. The club and supporters there have given me a huge amount over the past two years, which I’ll never forget.

“It’s been a tremendously difficult time affecting a lot of really good people, but it doesn’t take away from the fact a new opportunity has opened up for me at Newcastle. I’m really thankful for that and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club.

“I worked with the Falcons’ new head coach Alex Codling for a brief period when I went on loan from Bath to Ealing, and know him to be a very good coach. It’ll be great to link up with him again, and I know quite a few of the other players already from either playing with them or meeting them around various things.”

“I’m very competitive and I’ll give absolutely everything for every second I’m on the pitch or in the training environment.

“I’ve played fly-half and centre plenty of times, and I’m happy to play wherever I’m needed. I’ll go wherever the coaches want me and wherever’s best for the team, and I can’t wait to get up there next week to begin the journey.

“As a visiting player I know Newcastle to be a very difficult place to come and get a result at, so I’d imagine they’ll be looking to build on that whole fortress mentality. It will be good to be on the other side of that, and the North-East crowd always seem like they get right into it.”

Jennings joins Newcastle Falcons as their twelfth senior signing, following the confirmed arrivals of Murray McCallum from Edinburgh, Eduardo Bello from Saracens, Cameron Hutchison from Edinburgh, Hugh O’Sullivan from London Irish, Tim Cardall from Melbourne Rebels, Louis Brown from Coventry, Ollie Leatherbarrow from Exeter Chiefs, Kiran McDonald from former Munster, Bryan Byrne from Bristol Bears, Josh Bainbridge from Coventry, and John Kelly from Doncaster Knights.