Falcons coach sees youth benefits

• Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates believes the emerging players at the club will have benefitted from their run-out in the clubs LV= Cup campaign. Bates has used the competition as a blooding ground for young players such as Tom Catterick and Michael Tait.

  "This has been a great opportunity for guys to get out there and learn about playing in the Premiership," Bates told BBC Newcastle.

  "Its not quite been at that intensity but its higher than A grade rugby. "

  Bates added: "I think theyll have learned a lot from it, and if thats the case, then its been very useful. "

  Bates has previously defended his team selection for the Anglo-Welsh Cup, having left out the majority of the clubs key players such as Jimmy Gopperth, Carl Hayman and Tane Tuipulotu.

  And the former Border Reivers coach once again admitted his strategy is decided by the personnel available at Kingston Park.

  "Weve got a really, really tough schedule coming up in the next few weeks and its important for us to use our resources sensibly," he said.

  "We havent got a big squad and weve got London Irish next Sunday, then Northampton and then Gloucester, followed by two big games against Montauban and then Leeds here at home.

  "Its great to give guys experience as some of them will be undoubtedly be needed during that period. "

  Source: BBC Sport - Rugby Union