HORDEN have issued a strong denial after being found guilty of racism at an RFU hearing in Durham City.

The were reprimanded and fined £250 following an incident in a Durham and Northumberland Division One game against Billingham, who had a coloured player sent off for butting.

He claimed to have been responding to racist remarks and Horden believe they have been found guilty purely on Billingham's evidence.

A statement issued by the club says: "At no time were Billingham able to assist in identifying any of the players or spectators alleged to have made the comments and an internal investigation failed to identify any such people.

"We have a zero tolerance attitude towards racism and the committee will reiterate to players and supporters their stance against racism. We wholeheartedly accept that there is no room for racism in rugby union or any other sport."

Horden also claim that it was accepted by all parties at the hearing that neither the referee, who was from the Manchester Society, or his assessor, David Aldridge, heard any racist remarks.

They will decide at their next committee meeting whether to appeal, the only deterrent being that the disciplinary body has the power to increase the punishment.

* Newcastle Falcons have drafted in James Hoyle and Joe Shaw on the wings in the only changes to the starting line-up for tonight's Powergen Cup tie at Leeds.

Hoyle, the 20-year-old former England Schools winger signed from Sale in the summer, will be making his fourth appearance, while it is Shaw's first start of the season.

Initially signed as a full back, Shaw has had 18 months of injury problems but scored a try in the defeat at Saracens two weeks ago, when he went on as a replacement fly half.

They take the places of Tom May, who is out for six weeks with an ankle injury, and Mathew Tait, who came off the bench yesterday to score a try in England's 52-7 win against Kenya in their first match at the Dubai Sevens.

Another winger who had seven months out with a broken leg, Ollie Phillips, is on the bench and Dave Walder is the only other backs replacement as the Falcons again opt for a 5-2 split.

There is no place for Scotland lock Stuart Grimes, who was expected to return after his pectoral injury, and with skipper Colin Charvis on the bench after his exertions for Wales Matt Burke will again be captain.

As there is nothing at stake for Leeds in this final group game the Falcons will expect to win, but they will progress to the semi-finals only if Llanelli fail to win at home to Sale.

That looks unlikely as the Sharks are again putting out a half-strength side as they did at Kingston Park.

The Newcastle Development XV are playing Stellenbosch University at Kingston Park tomorrow (2pm) and the South Africans also have a game against Northumbria University at Bullocksteads today.

Both matches will take players away from Darlington Mowden Park, who also have players at the Dubai Sevens, and they will have a newly-registered South African, Jose Pierre Pretorius, on the bench at Nuneaton.

No relation to lock Naude Pretorius, he can play at hooker or flanker.

The players missing from last week's starting line-up are Danny Brown, Anthony Peck, Gavin Stainsby, Ricky Bagier, Eni Gisende and Iain Dixon, plus replacements Mark Darlington and Ross Batty.

Darlington will hope to bounce back from their heavy defeat at Bradford and Bingley by winning at home to Cleckheaton.

Despite opening the scoring with a try by veteran player-coach John Bentley last week, Cleckeaton lost at home to Hull Ionians and are third bottom after having five points deducted for a registration error.