NEWCASTLE Falcons boss John Fletcher is writing to every rugby club in the North-East to raise support ahead of the Easter Sunday visit of Northampton Saints.

Fletcher wants the whole region to get behind his team for the game in which victory could end the Falcons' Guinness Premiership relegation fears.

Northampton are currently bottom, with Newcastle two places and seven points above them with four games left.

The Falcons have a rearranged match at Gloucester this Saturday before finishing with three home games, starting with Northampton on April 8.

"I felt it was important to write personally to every club coach in the region and get the whole North-East rugby community backing us on Easter Sunday," said Fletcher.

"We are fortunate enough to have a great relationship with our local teams, thanks largely to the work done by the Falcons Community Foundation."

The Falcons have won every game at Kingston Park since November 10 and Fletcher added: "Our fans have been an absolutely vital ingredient in our home success.

"If we can take that support on to the next level on Easter Sunday we will put ourselves in a much stronger position as the region's top-flight representatives."

Former All Black centre Mark Mayerhofler has agreed to stay with Newcastle until November 1, covering for what is expected to be a number of midfield call-ups during the World Cup.

After five seasons with the Falcons, Mayerhofler, 34, planned to return home to New Zealand at the end of this season.

He will miss the rest of the current campaign following a shoulder operation and Fletcher said: "Mark has really put his body on the line over the last six weeks.

"We have had to manage the injury during this time with four of our inside backs away on Six Nations duty.

"His presence in the side was absolutely vital, and he has coped tremendously."