Saints lose a centre and Falcons lose cash
October 30 2008
Northampton Saints have lost promising young centre Joe Ansbro for the rest of the year after the 20-year-old suffered a fractured thumb socket that has required an operation and a three-month lay-off.
Ansbro picked up the injury in the closing stages of Saints' EDF Energy Cup defeat at Saracens on Sunday and is expected to be out of action until January at the earliest
"Unfortunately Joe Ansbro has taken a fairly bad knock to his thumb," Mallinder told the Northampton Chronicle.
"I think he'll be out for at least a couple of months."
Meanwhile, Saints Academy product and England U20 lock James Cannon (pictured) has joined National League One side Bedford Blues on loan in an effort to get him more game time.
Newcastle have staved off a sudden but slight threat of being wound up.
Majority shareholder David Thompson paid a six-figure sum to the taxman on Wednesday, after a petition was made for the order this week by Revenue & Customs (HMRC), as creditors of Newcastle Rugby Ltd (NRL). Thompson blames the credit crunch for the hiccup, with the Falcons already losing over £1m ($1.66m) a year.
Thompson is in extensive negotiations with potential investors in a bid to put Newcastle on a more solid financial footing, and hopes to have good news for the club within the next month.