Last updated at 09:53, Friday, 20 November 2009

HOPES of England U20s rising star Rob Miller returning to the Tynedale ranks have been dashed.

Points haul: Tynedale's Allen Rogers scored five tries.

The club’s leading scorer last season revealed this week he is perfectly happy staying on the bench with Newcastle Falcons.

After dropping dangerously close to the National League Division One relegation zone last month, the Tynedale faithful were hopeful that Miller might be called up to ease their worries.

But the charismatic back from Keswick told the Courant’s sister paper the News and Star he couldn’t be happier warming the bench at Newcastle Falcons this season.

Miller is having to be content in the shadow of Junior All Black Jimmy Gopperth, who joined the Guinness Premiership side this summer.

Miller insists he has no plans to play in the national league this season because he wants to be part of things at Falcons.

Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates regards Miller as an England star of the future and the youngster has been tipped as the new Jonny Wilkinson.

Miller said: “It is quite tough because you want to play every week and you want to play as much as you can. In my first year here I was playing two games a week so I think I clocked up nearly 50 games.

“So initially it’s been less match time, but for me being in this environment full-time is what I aspire to, and being on the bench for the first team is probably something I’d prefer to do rather than go somewhere else to get games.

“What I’ve got to do is keep working hard, keep watching and learning and then take every opportunity that comes my way.

“If I can be the definite number two No 10 then that’s progress.

“And I have to keep reminding myself not to get frustrated.

“I knew from the start of the season where my game-time was going to be, that I would have to be pretty flexible around getting games maybe in Europe and in games like this. I’ve got to accept that, keep a level head in training, not get frustrated by that and keep performing every week to stake a claim.”

Miller became the third-youngest player ever to play for the Falcons first team when he made his Guinness Premiership debut in a game against Bristol in March last year topping the occasion by claiming man-of-the-match honours.

First published at 09:39, Friday, 20 November 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk