A YOUNG flanker from Ponteland more than made his mark on the rugby union Championship this season.

Callum Chick (23) was selected in the Greene King IPA Championship team of the year by fans on Twitter, the public voters selecting the former Ponteland Rugby Club junior at number six.

Having grown up in Ponteland, Chick split his early days in rugby between his hometown club and his closest professional club, Newcastle Falcons, joining the Kingston Park outfit at the age of 12.

He signed his first professional contract with the Falcons in 2015, and went on to make his senior debut in 2016 when he turned out against Wasps. Chick has been instrumental in Newcastle’s unbeaten record this term before the season came to a premature end due to coronavirus, helping the club to promotion back to the Gallagher Premiership.

Chick was shortlisted for the number six slot by the Championship selectors alongside former Falcon, and ex-Tynedale player, Dan Temm, Ealing Trailfinders’ Kieran Murphy and London Scottish player Matt Eliet.

Chick received 40 per cent of the 1,163 votes cast to put him head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates.

His closest challenger was Temm with 28.6 per cent of the votes, with Murphy receiving 19.7 per cent and Eliet 11.7 per cent.

Chick and his Newcastle Falcons colleagues, under the continued leadership of head coach, and Tynedale resident, Dean Richards, are looking forward to getting back to action after one year in the Championship.