Newcastle's new lock is Bill Beaumont's (l) son and has worked with former England coach Brian Ashton (r) at Fylde © Getty Images

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Newcastle Falcons have added to their second-row ranks for the 2011-12 Premiership season with the signing of 19-year-old Josh Beaumont.

Beaumont, son of England and British & Irish Lions legend Bill Beaumont, has been capped by the Barbarians and will join the Falcons squad after the Middlesex 7s on Saturday. Beaumont will be playing for Durham University at the tournament at Twickenham and will continue his studies at the prestigious University while at the Falcons.

Falcons assistant academy coach Mark Laycock is looking forward to welcoming the second-row to Kingston Park and labelled the 19-year-old an "intelligent player." "Josh played most of his junior rugby at fly-half for Arnold School in Lancashire so he is very adept with ball in hand," Laycock said.

"He is a powerful athlete, who is intelligent in the lineout and confrontational in the contact area. Josh will join up with the Falcons first squad outside of term time to train because his University commitments take priority at the moment."

Beamount, who will be dual registered, will continue to play for local newly promoted National One side Fylde. Fylde head coach Mark Nelson is delighted with Beaumont's progress so far. "Josh is a young player with a great deal of potential," Nelson said. "He's developed through school and with Alan Holmes at the Fylde core he has made a big contribution to the club winning the National 2 Championship last season.

"I am delighted that the Falcons have taken him on board and I am sure that under their expert tuition he will make real progress. This is a great example of Premiership clubs working positively with the National League clubs and universities to develop young English players with real potential." Beaumont will be joined at the Falcons by fellow new signings Ryan Shortland and Jordi Pasqualin.