Former USA captain Todd Clever has signed with the Newcastle Falcons of England's Aviva Premiership.

Clever was left off the USA's Rugby World Cup squad and since has played for the famed Barbarians touring side, but was looking to hook on with a pro club in Europe of late. Clever had played with the NTT Shining Arcs in Japan before moving back to the USA to play with OMBAC in preparation for the Rugby World Cup push. He was dismissed from the USA team, though, just one week into the squad's summer assembly after missing two mandatory sessions.

Clever is played 63 times for the USA. He now joins a Newcastle Falcons squad that already has Eagle Eric Fry on its roster. Clever clearly will be needed to provide cover in the back row during the World Cup, although league play really doesn't get going until November. This, however, is not a short-term deal.

“We’re delighted to have added a player of Todd’s calibre to our squad," Newcatle Director of Rugby Dean Richards said in the club statement. He is a physical defender and a powerful attacker with proven experience on rugby’s biggest stage and we look forward to seeing him in action for the Falcons. As a club we have great ambitions for the coming years and believe that Todd has a part to play in achieving those ambitions both on and off the field.”

“The club is expecting big things in the next few years and I’m looking forward to it. It’s good to be in the situation as a new player coming in where people expect big things," Clever added. "It’s going to be a really exciting time for the Falcons and I’m thrilled to join. I hope I can go good on the field and off it too, help the team atmosphere and hopefully help the Falcons family to grow.

“In the past I’ve had opportunities to come to Europe but because of where I was in life it didn’t seem to be the right place for me. But now I’m really hungry for it and really excited, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play here.”