Former British and Irish Lion and one-time Welsh captain Colin Charvis has signed a two-year deal with Zurich Premiership side the Newcastle Falcons. He joins the Falcons having spent one season with French second division outfit Tarbres.
The 31-year-old, capped 68 times by his country, is the first of what is expected to be several signings over the summer as the Falcons Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, goes about strengthening his squad in preparation for the club's return to the Heineken Cup next season.
Charvis himself has plenty of Heineken Cup experience having represented Swansea in each of their six seasons in the tournament. He moved to France last season following the restructuring of the Welsh game and his subsequent failure to secure a contract with one of the newly formed super clubs.
The signing is good news for Welsh rugby with the knowledge that one of their most gifted and influential players will be once again playing top class European rugby when the Heineken Cup kicks-off again this October.