Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Steve Bates is taking no chances for Saturday's fixture with Cetransa El Salvador © Getty Images

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Matches Newcastle 63 - 0 Cetransa El Salvador

Tournaments/Tours European Challenge Cup

Teams Cetransa El Salvador | Newcastle

Newcastle Falcons have named a strong-looking side for Saturday's European Challenge Cup opener against Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador at Kingston Park.

All Black props Carl Hayman and Joe McDonnell both pack down for the match, while England centre Jamie Noon is among those returning to the back line.

Winger John Rudd will undergo late fitness checks to confirm his place in the starting XV after being injured in the act of scoring in the home victory over Bristol, while on the other flank there is a starting home debut for England rugby league international Danny Williams.

The Spanish side, based in Valladolid, secured their sixth Spanish title last season, and have been a fixture of the European Challenge Cup in recent years. The Falcons also opened their European campaign against the Spanish minnows in 2007, running in 11 tries in a 71-10 rout.

Despite the convincing nature of past results, Falcons Director of Rugby Steve Bates has named a strong squad. He said, "We will be giving El Salvador our full respect this Saturday. The team has trained well this week, the focus among the group is excellent and we are looking to put in to practice what we have been working on going in to what is an important week for the club with two games in the space of five days."

The second of those matches comes in France on Thursday with a trip to Brive for the fourth successive year, "Saturday allows us the chance to put down a marker ahead of the Brive match," said Bates. "It will set the tone for our whole assault on this competition, and we are looking forward to seeing this group of players in action."

Newcastle Falcons: Steve Jones, Danny Williams, Jamie Noon, Tom May, John Rudd, Rory Clegg, Hall Charlton, Joe McDonnell, Matt Thompson, Carl Hayman, Tim Swinson, Mark Sorenson, Ross Beattie, Ed Williamson, Phil Dowson (c)

Replacements: Andy Long, Jon Golding, Micky Ward, Andy Perry, Russell Winter, James Grindal, Spencer Davey

Cetransa El Salvador: Redgarht Van Eyk, Raúl Turrión, Meeuwis Stanley, Nava Nava, Luis Gascón, Justin Wilson, Sale Ibarra, TAZ Lewis, Daniel Marrón, Manuel Serrano, Sergio Souto, Craig Lyons, Fabio Galloppa, Iván Criado, Charlie O'Connell.

Replacements: César Caballero, Diego Zarzosa, Gaston Gaston, Francisco Carracedo, Jorge Molina, Ignacio Gutiérrez, Manuel Raposa.

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