Newcastle Falcons opened their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign with a 27-19 win against European newcomers Lyon at Kingston Park.

Two first-half tries from second-row Tim Swinson proved the difference to give his side a winning start in Pool Two.

Scrum-half Jordi Pasqualin crossed for the Falcons' third try straight after half-time before Lyon's impressive number eight Nicolas Bontinick responded with Lyon's first European try three minutes later.

Indiscipline proved a major problem for the French side, who had three players - lock Arnaud Dorier, centre Latu Alipate Fatafehi and Bontinck sin-binned during the game.

Newport Gwent Dragons welcomed back their Wales World Cup stars as they beat Italian minnows I Cavalieri 33-3 in Italy. Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau led the returning cast as they appeared for the first time since helping Wales to the semi-finals in New Zealand.

The Dragons will next face Perpignan, who earned a narrow home 15-12 over the Exeter Chiefs in Catalonia on Saturday, at Rodney Parade.

That will see the return of James Hook to Wales for the first time since he left the Ospreys in the summer.

All Blacks legend Joe Rokocoko, who left New Zealand to move to France in the summer, scored his first try in European rugby in Bayonne's six-try rout of Italian side Femi-CX Rovigo 43-10.

Agen ran riot as they rattled off a 50-10 victory over Spanish minnows CR La Vila, who won the Spanish title last season and are in their first season of European rugby, in Alicante.