Talented young Cumbrian hooker Jamie Blamire has been promoted into Newcastle Falcons’ first-team squad.

Seaton-born Blamire, a former Workington Zebras player, is one of three players from Newcastle’s academy squad for the 2018/19 campaign to make the step up into the senior ranks as they announced a 19-strong academy squad for the new season.

The 21-year-old former England Under-18 and Under-20 international came off the bench three times for the first-team in the second-half of last term in a victory at Sale Sharks in February and then in the club’s two finals matches of their campaign, against Gloucester and Bristol.

Having enjoyed a spell at Tynedale, as well, Blamire joins fellow Cumbrians Mark Wilson, brothers Guy and Gary Graham and Brett Connon into Newcastle’s first-team squad, with Carlisle-born Chris Harris set to leave Falcons this summer and join Gloucester after the Kingston Park club’s relegation from the Premiership.

Nine of the current academy group, which include west Cumbrian Rob Farrar and South Cumbrian Josh Hodge, will retain their places.

George Wacokecoke and Ben Stevenson, meanwhile, are set to train full-time after completing their degrees during a season, in which, both players made their Gallagher Premiership debuts. They will be joined by Conrad Cade, Oscar Caudle, Sedbergh School student Harry Hill, Freddie Lockwood, Chidera Obonna, Callum Pascoe, Bailey Ransom and Charlie Richards in the academy ranks.

Falcons academy manager Mark Laycock told the club website: “We have a fantastic group of talented local players coming through the ranks, a number of whom have already had a taste of first-team involvement.

“A number of our senior academy players were heavily involved in the Falcons A-Team which, this season, reached the final of the Premiership Rugby Shield, many have made their mark on the international age-group scene and it’s really pleasing to see three of last year’s senior academy members graduating into the first-team squad.

“We have always been a club which looks to promote local talent and there is plenty of it within the senior academy next season.”