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Scotland prop McCallum returning to Prem after Edinburgh stint
By Ian Cameron
Former Scotland prop Murray McCallum is heading back to Gallagher Premiership after what will have been a short stay in Edinburgh following the demise of Worcester Warriors.
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Newcastle Falcons have announced the signing of McCallum on a two-year deal from the 2023-24 season.
The 26-year-old also had a brief trial at Montauban in France prior to joining Edinburgh on a short-term deal.
McCallum can play on both sides of the scrum and is currently enjoying a second stint with Edinburgh.
The prop who has been capped three times by Scotland, said: “Newcastle Falcons are an ambitious club, it’s a great city and I’m excited by the opportunity to come down and make it my home.
“The Falcons have had a strong Scottish connection for a lot of years with big players like Doddie Weir, and it will be great to be a part of that.”
McCallum has played 69 times in his two spells with Edinburgh, scoring a try for them on Saturday, and had made 16 appearances for Worcester prior to their early-season expulsion from the Gallagher Premiership.
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Going on to play for the Barbarians on their northern hemisphere tour in November before returning to Edinburgh, he insists he is relishing the opportunity to start with the Falcons once his commitments in the Scottish capital are concluded.
“I’ve played at Kingston Park for Edinburgh in a pre-season game a few years back, and everyone knows it’s a tough place to come,” he said.
“The fact it will be home for me is really nice, and I’m looking forward to it. The proximity to Scotland is obviously great from a family point of view with a lot of them based on the East coast, and it’s just a move which makes a lot of sense.
“It has obviously been a really unsettling time for everyone concerned with Worcester Warriors. I have a fiancée and a six-month-old baby, so it’s great just to have that stability now that everything is sorted.
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“My fiancée went to university in Newcastle and absolutely loved it so she’s going to be right at home, and we’re looking forward to moving down in the summer.
“I’ve been in squads with a couple of the lads I’ll be playing with next season, I’m impressed by what I’ve seen and heard about the club and I can’t wait to get started.
Able to play at loose-head or tight-head, McCallum said: “I’ll play wherever I’m needed, but I’d say I’m competent on both sides and I’m happy to play either.
“I just want to do what’s best for the team, and if that means playing loose-head, tight-head or anywhere else, I’ll put myself forward.”
Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder said: “We’re looking forward to Murray coming down and starting with us in the summer.
“He has Premiership experience with Worcester so he knows what the league is about, he’s had a taste of international rugby earlier in his career and he’s playing at a good level with Edinburgh.
“The fact he can play on both sides of the scrum gives us plenty of options, and it’s great to hear how enthusiastic he is about coming to Newcastle and making a real contribution for the club.”
