It may be the off-season, but Newcastle Falcons players have still been engaged in rugby action as they put in the ground work for their RFU coaching badges to help their local clubs.

A number of Falcons stars have swapped the scrum cap for the tracksuit and clipboard over the summer months, with grass roots teams set to benefit from their coaching knowhow.

All Black prop Joe McDonnell is among those studying for his RFU Level Three badge, which he will use to good effect in helping Blyth RFC through their Durham and Northumberland Division Three campaign alongside countryman Carl Hayman.

Fellow front rower Micky Ward is also undertaking the Level Three course, with his local club Wallsend benefiting as he assists in their preparations for the Durham and Northumberland Division One season.

Falcons junior academy manager Mark Laycock is another undergoing the RFU Level Three course, having already coached the Falcons to the Middlesex Sevens title as well as bringing through a host of talented players from the club's academy.

The fourth Falcon on the Level Three programme is Steve Jones, who will pick up the course after missing the recent sessions at Darlington RFC due to his involvement with Scotland 'A' as he helped them to the final of the Churchill Cup over in North America.

Newcastle hooker Andy Long, meanwhile, is among those working towards his RFU Level Two badge, as he helps Morpeth RFC through their North Two East campaign, while Middlesex Sevens winners Scott Riddell and Jack Smales are also on the Level Two course as they work with the Northumbria University and Haydon Bridge School teams respectively.

Falcons director of rugby, Steve Bates, hailed the players' involvement, stating: "The boys have done this off their own back, and while the club is supporting them through the process, it is the players themselves who have been the real driving force behind it.

"Not only will it improve their own understanding of the game as they progress through the RFU programme, but having guys like this coaching at grass roots level in the North-East brings an obvious benefit to the clubs they are involved with.

"Joe McDonnell is a fine example of someone determined to put something back in to the game, and the way he has involved himself at Blyth RFC over the past year is a real credit to him.

"Our players are very grounded, they appreciate the importance of the community game and improving their own personal skills, so it is great to have so many of them involved with these courses and their local clubs."