Adam Powell will stay with Newcastle Falcons until at least 2017

Newcastle centre Adam Powell has committed his immediate future to the club by signing a new two-year contract which will keep him with the Falcons until at least 2017.

The Romford-born 28-year-old came to Newcastle from Saracens in 2013 and has made 52 appearances for the club, helping to establish them in the Aviva Premiership.

Powell was one of the first signings made by Dean Richards when he became director of rugby at Kingston Park and helped the Falcons to promotion during the latter part of the 2012-13 campaign.

Powell told the Newcastle website: “I’m happy to have signed for another two years and I’m really enjoying it here at the moment, so I’m glad to stay.

“Things have gone to plan so far. We got promoted in the first year, stayed up last year, and we’ve improved this year. We’ve still got a lot of improving to do but I believe in this and hopefully we’ll keep improving.

“I’ve racked up the games while I’ve been here, which is nice. One of the big things about coming here was that I love playing every week.

“This is a really competitive squad, so I feel very fortunate to play as much as I have.

“I think part of me coming here for Dean was for me to be a voice. I’ve been around some good people before and I think Dean wanted me to bring that to the team.

“Hopefully I have and hopefully that will really contribute to us kicking on.”

Richards added: “Adam is a key member of the squad and we’re very pleased to be keeping him for another two seasons.

“He is an influential figure both on and off the field and has a big part to play in our continual drive to progress the club.”