Newcastle Falcons hooker Santiago Socino to join Jaguares next season

Argentina born hooker Santiago Socino will part ways with the Gallagher Premiership club Newcastle Falcons at the end of the ongoing season.

The 27-year-old started his professional rugby career with Hull Ionians and moved to the Kingston Park in 2015 and has made 34 first team appearances for the Falcons including 21 in the Premiership.

Socino also had loan stints with Darlington Mowden Park, and Rotherham Titans and renewed his contract with the Falcons again in 2018 but now will return back to his native Argentina where he will join the Super Rugby club Jaguares.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards wished Socino good luck on his aspirations to make it to the Argentina Test side.

“Santi has ambitions to play international rugby for Argentina and we have agreed to release him so that he can take up this opportunity in his homeland," he said.

“We wish him the best of luck for his move to the Jaguares, and hopefully we will see him pushing on and achieving his goal of playing for his country.”

The Falcons had a dismal 2018/19 season of Gallagher Premiership where they faced relegation after winning just six out of the 22 games.