Falcons capture Wallabies star

Former Australian vice-captain Matt Burke has signed for Newcastle Falcons.

12:01 17 June 2004

Former Australian vice-captain Matt Burke has signed for Newcastle Falcons.

The 31-year-old full-back, capped 79 times by his country, was not been included in the squad for the two home Tests with Scotland, and decided his time in Australia had come to an end.

He moves to Kingston Park from the NSW Waratahs, where he has been since 1993, and can also play at centre.

"I am delighted to have signed for Newcastle Falcons and am looking forward to the next phase of my career and to playing in the Zurich Premiership and the Heineken Cup," Burke said.

"Newcastle have already had great success both on and off the field in a very short period of time and, with the signings that have been made I am looking forward to helping the club build on this success.

"I am impressed with the ambition of the club and am keen to be a part of the next phase for Newcastle."

Burke is the fifth top-points scorer in international rugby history with 868 points, and is the second most prolific Australian to have played the game.

He made his biggest impact on the world stage in the 1999 World Cup, where he scored 101 points to help the Wallabies to victory, including 24 in the semi-final against South Africa and 25 against France in the final.