Newcastle Falcons v Cardiff Blues

Newcastle Falcons have named an all-English-qualified starting XV for Friday’s European Rugby Challenge Cup visit of Cardiff Blues to Kingston Park Stadium.The last time Newcastle were in the Challenge Cup (2017/18) they reached the semi-finals, having won all of their pool stage matches. However, Cardiff Blues have lost their last four away games against Premiership opponents in the Challenge Cup at an average margin of 22 points.

Friday 11 December 2020 20:00 Challenge Cup Round 1 Preliminary Stage Kingston Park

Homegrown fly-half Joel Hodgson captains the Falcons in the 8pm kick-off, which is being televised live in the UK on both S4C and BT Sport 3.

Former England Students lock Bailey Ransom makes his first team debut, centre Pete Lucock starting for the first time since joining from Doncaster Knights in the summer – flankers Josh Basham and Rob Farrar also making their maiden starts. Full Offy match preview here

Cardiff Blues: John Mulvihill is excited to kick off the festive season as Cardiff Blues open their European Challenge Cup campaign against Newcastle Falcons he has made a total of seven changes from their last outing as attention turns to European affairs at Kingston Park, with four of those internationals going straight into the starting line-up.  

Mulvihill said: “It’s great to welcome some of our Wales boys to the squad this weekend and they have brought a lot of enthusiasm and energy to training this week.  “We have done well in the Challenge Cup previously and the boys are looking forward to the challenge of taking on a Newcastle Falcons team flying high in the English Premiership. “It’s a very important time of year and we really want a big result up in Newcastle to roll into Stade Francais at home next weekend and then the Welsh derbies.”

Newcastle Falcons: 5 Alex Tait,14 George Wacokecoke, 13 Pete Lucock,12 Joel Matavesi,11 Tom Arscott,10 Joel Hodgson (captain),9 Sam Stuart,1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Mark Tampin, 4 Darren Barry, 5 Bailey Ransom , 6 Rob Farrar, 7 Josh Basham, 8 Tom Marshall

Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Kyle Cooper, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Connor Collett, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Cooper Vuna, 23 Brett Connon

Cardiff Blues: H Amos; O Lane, G Smith, B Thomas, A Summerhill; J Evans, T Williams; B Thyer, K Dacey, D Lewis, S Davies, C Hill (capt), S Lewis-Hughes, J Turnbull, S Moore.

Replacements: I Harris, R Carré, S Andrews, B Murphy, G Bradley, L Williams, H Millard, M Morgan

Ref: Ludovic Cayre (France)

Assis Ref 1: Hamish Smales (England) 

Assis Ref 2: John Meredith (England) 

TMO: Graham Hughes (England)