By RucknRoll
August 24 2006

Jon Golding

Leicester; Northampton

A local lad, born in Morpeth, Jon moved to the Midlands when he was 12. Spotted playing for Nottingham by Leicester Tigers academy boss Dusty Hare and stayed at the Welford Road academy from 1998-2001. Northampton coach Wayne Smith then took him to Franklin’s Gardens where he made a number of Premiership appearances from the bench, including the last few minutes of a game at Franklin’s Gardens against the Falcons in October 2003 (a 33-20 reverse for us). Jon joined Rotherham for the start of the 2004/5 season and played 45 games for the (now Earth) Titans in two seasons, scoring three tries in each.

The Falcons announced the signing of Jon in February 2006 and he has joined during the summer on a one year deal. Rob Andrew rates this lad, who operates at loosehead, and has described him as “a good scrummager….also very mobile around the field…..carries the ball well and has a high tackle rate.”

Fact: A former England cap at U19s, he was included in the final trial at U21 level, but a concussion early on in the trial ultimately ended his selection chances.