MacLeod pens Newcastle deal

Newcastle have announced the signing of Scotland international lock Scott MacLeod.

The 33-year-old has recently been playing in Japan following spells with the Scarlets and Edinburgh.

He has won 23 caps and featured during Scotland's 2007 World Cup campaign.

"Newcastle Falcons are a club with great potential, and I am really looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates," MacLeod told the club's official website.

"I am good mates with Ally Hogg, and he has told me how good the team spirit is at the club. It can only go from strength to strength under the management of Dean Richards."

Newcastle are clinging to Aviva Premiership survival despite finishing bottom after the 22-game regular season.

If Cornish Pirates win the two-leg Championship final against London Welsh later this month then Newcastle will stay up as Pirates have not requested a Rugby Football Union audit to discover whether or not they meet Premiership entry criteria.

London Welsh, though, are confident of their top-flight entry should they topple the Pirates, with the Exiles thought to be considering a ground-share at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium next season.