Newcastle sign prop Clark for rest of season

Newcastle Red Bulls interim head coach Stephen Jones has seen his front-row options depleted by injuries [Getty Images]

Gallagher Prem basement side Newcastle Red Bulls have signed prop Jamie Clark from Irish club Old Wesley for the rest of the season.

Clark, 23, has played for Australia Under-20s , but is English-qualified through his father.

Clark has already started training with his new team-mates and told the Newcastle Red Bull website: "I'm here until the end of the season and I'm just keen to make the most of the opportunity.

"Being in an environment like this and learning from all the players and coaches around me, it'll be a great experience and I'm determined to make the most of it.

"I'm super-excited about the whole thing and it's always been a dream to go into that pro rugby environment and test myself."

Newcastle Red Bulls have won just one of their 12 Prem games and general manager Neil McIlroy says Clark's arrival will help ease their problems in the front row.

"We're glad to be able to bring Jamie in for the remainder of this season, having had our front-row resources pushed to the limit with injuries," he said.

"He has shown great promise while playing in Ireland and we are keen to evaluate his credentials with a view to possibly offering him a place in our squad in the future."

Newcastle travel to face third-placed Leicester Tigers in the Prem on Saturday, 18 April.