PLAYER PROFILE : GEORGE GRAHAM. BORN:19/1/66 BIRTHPLACE: Sterling HEIGHT: 5’ 7" WEIGHT: 17st 0lb POSITION: Prop

Newcastle’s versatile prop has played both rugby union and league, being capped for Scotland in both codes.

With league, after playing with Carlisle RLC, he was invited to tour Zimbabwe in 1988 as a Stirling County player. Amazingly during his five years with that club, he played in every position with the exception of full back and centre. As his contract came to a close, he had moved to the Fly Half position.

Later during an appearance for Scotland’s rugby union development XV, he was unsurprisingly spotted for his scrumaging skills by the Scotland’s first team selectors. He also represented his country as part of a nine a side competition in Fiji. George first appeared for his country in an Five Nation international v’s Ireland last February, after gaining his first full cap as a replacement v’s Australia only four months earlier.

His abilities within the scrum and in the loose have shone both at home and away last season for Newcastle, where his skill and strength have been obvious to any onlooker or opponent. He makes a solid and almost unbeatable pack of forwards complete .

A strong end to the 1999 season saw George on the plane to South Africa as a member of the Scots summer touring party, a call up to the Scotland World Cup squad and Newcastle's May player of the month.

The World Cup saw George Graham in his element with a string of stirring performances, a man enjoying his rugby. His return to Newcastle was inspired with side steps and breaks that would make any back proud. A catalyst of activity and drive which had supporters asking were they could find another fourteen of him.

George's season was cut short scoring a last minute try when Scotland played against Wales in the 2000 Six Nations Championship. His injury means that we are unlikely to see his return to the Newcastle fold before the beginning of the 2000/2001 season.