EX-FALCON SET FOR RETURN
The 31-year-old Kiwi, who made more than 100 appearances for the northeasterners during his five year stint with the club, will trot out onto the hallow Kingston Park turf for the first time since 2010.
And the Napier-born flanker admits he will have mixed emotions when he leads his charges out for the top of the table blockbuster.
Speaking to the Falcons official website, Wilson said: “It will be a strange experience for me to be getting changed in the away dressing room.
“I had some good times with the Falcons and I am very much looking forward to catching up with some old faces before and after the game.
“It will be nice to see players like Jonny Golding and James Hudson, who have been great servants for the club.
“Obviously my focus is on doing well with Nottingham, but I still look out for the Falcons’ result at the weekend.”
Like the newly structured Falcons, Nottingham has had their fair share of changes as they look to prosper in English rugby’s second tier.
Appointing ex-England international lock Martin Haag as the club’s new head coach in the summer, Wilson insists the East Midlands outfit are on the up.
Thrashing Bristol 63-7 on Sunday, the Green and Whites have cemented their position as the Falcons nearest rivals in second place, eight points adrift of Dean Richards’ men.
“Things are going very well for the club, and we have had a good run of results of late,” said Wilson who scored two tries in his side’s demolition of the West Country club.
He added: “The club is certainly going places and at the start of the season we targeted a play-off spot come the end of the campaign, so we are currently on course.
“That said, there is still a long way to go and we are not getting carried away by any stretch of the imagination – the Championship is a very tough league and there are a number of clubs who will fancy their chances of breaking into the top four.
> Many clubs have tried and failed to beat the Falcons on their own
> patch so far this season, and we will be hoping to be the club that
> defeats them.
Named skipper by new boss Haag in the close season, Wilson reveals former Falcons skipper’s Carl Hayman, Phil Dowson, Matt Burke and James Hudson were the ideal role model for him.
“They were excellent captains and I have been influenced by the way they conducted themselves on the pitch,” said Wilson.
“I am enjoying my role as Nottingham captain, and I have a good working relationship with all of the coaches at the club,” he added.
Tickets for the Nottingham game are still available by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
