Falcons ready for "business end" of season

Chris Pilgrim (left), Will Welch (centre) and Ally Hogg (right) showing off the club's new kits Credit: ITV

Competition: RFU Championship Play-offs, Semi-Final first leg

Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds

Kick-off: Mon 6th May, 3:15pm

The waiting is finally over for the Newcastle Falcons. After finishing top of this year's RFU Championship table, their promotion campaign reaches its climax with the start of the playoffs.

Dean Richards' team have won all but one of their league matches this season, making them the bookmakers' favourites for promotion to the Premiership going into this afternoon's Semi-Final first leg with Leeds Carnegie.

However, Falcons Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth says form counts for very little when it comes to the play-offs. He said:

The Falcons have been relentless in terms of their form this season. They finished 24 points ahead of 2nd place Nottingham in the table, losing only once to Bristol in Round 22. Falcons Hooker Rob Vickers says the team are feeling confident ahead of the play-off campaign. He said:

Despite being favourites to go up, Falcons coach Dean Richards says this year's competition is tough. He said:

The second leg takes place at Kingston Park on Sunday 12th May. If the Falcons can overcome Leeds Carnegie over the two matches, they'll face either Bedford Blues or Nottingham in a two-legged Final scheduled for 23rd and 29th May.