English Premiership champions Newcastle have signed South Africa prop forward Marius Hurter in a three-year deal. Hurter, who has 13 Test caps and was a member of the Springboks' 1995 World Cup-winning squad, will join the Falcons at the end of October when he completes his Currie Cup commitments with Western Province.

Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew also confirmed the loss of Western Samoan international flanker Pat Lam to Northampton.

Lam, who had a year of his contract left, has agreed a three-year deal with Northampton.

Newcastle have already lost England full back Tim Simpson, who has joined Leicester, and international centre Alan Tait, who has returned to Scotland.