French Elite starlet gets Newcastle chance

Newcastle Thunder have signed young French half-back Thomas Lacans from Elite Championship side Lezignan.

Lacans, 21, will hook up with Thunder for the rest of the Championship season, following in the footsteps of half-back partner Remi Marginet.

He has played the past four seasons with Lezignan, helping them win the title in 2021.

Thunder director of rugby, Denis Betts, said: “Thomas is a very highly regarded player who made the Elite 1 team of the year last season and is looking to test himself in England and we’re very happy to have been able to offer him the opportunity to play in the Championship.

“He is a versatile player who can operate at hooker and in the halfbacks and adds some options to our squad for the rest of the season. He has been going very well in training and I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”

Lacans, who has played 53 times for Lezignan, is eligible to play in Newcastle’s clash with London at the weekend.

His father Cedric is a former Lezignan player, who won three consecutive French championships.