NEWCASTLE FALCONS hand a debut to Tongan international flanker Josh Afu at Kingston Park tomorrow, as they host French side Albi in the second round of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The former Queensland Red forms part of a side containing six changes from the one which sent the Falcons top of their Pool last Saturday, courtesy of their bonus point victory at Italian side Petrarca Padova.

England Under-20s forward Will Welch makes a home debut on the openside flank after an impressive cameo last weekend in Italy, while James Hudson slots into the second row as Samoan international Filipo Levi reverts to No. 8.

The only other change to the pack sees Matt Thompson back at hooker, while behind the scrum Jimmy Gopperth takes over from Rob Miller at fly half and Charlie Amesbury slots in at fullback with Alex Tait ruled out.

Director of rugby Steve Bates is without a handful of his first team squad, with Jon Golding, Rob Vickerman, Tim Swinson, Chris Micklewood and Michael Tait among those to be sidelined.

Bates said: “They might be bottom of the Top 14, but from the tapes we’ve watched and having looked at their results they have actually been competitive even against some of the very top teams in France.

“They very nearly beat Toulouse away a few weeks ago, and they’ve also claimed bonus points from teams like Racing Metro as well as beating Bayonne last month.

Their league position, to me, is almost an irrelevance, because from the videos we’ve seen they look like a very strong forward pack with plenty of pace out wide.’’ Darlington Mowden Park will hand a debut to new signing Mace Poloie against Chester today, with manager Gus Miller hoping he can vindicate his decision to hand him a chance in northern hemisphere rugby.

Poloie, born and bred in New Zealand, arrived in the North-East just a few weeks ago after an unsuccessful trial to become a full Samoan international and Mowden are confident the move will be a success.

He will play at No. 8 this afternoon, with Tom Wilson given extra time to recover from a hand injury.

“Mace’s last run out was for the full Samoan international team,” said team manager Miller. “He arrives here with a good reputation and we are looking forward to working with him.

“He was playing his rugby in New Zealand in Auckland and he arrived over here around three weeks ago, just after his trial with Samoa.

“We have never seen him play in a full scale match but you don’t get to the standard of trialing for your country without being a good player.

We are just happy to have the opportunity to have him in our team and he is happy to have the chance to play some northern hemisphere rugby.”

Miller also confirmed that there is likely to be one change to the back row as Mowden look to claim the victory that will lift them above sixth-placed Chester in National Division Three (North).

West Hartlepool have a testing afternoon against league leaders Morley, abd they hand a first start in the second row to Ben Lloyd.

With Andrew Davies ruled out with a stomach bug, Lloyd has been promoted from the Stags and will be joined in the team by Dave Garside who returns to the back row.

Westoe head for seventhplaced Broadstreet looking to swap places with their Warwickshire counterparts in National Division Two (North).

North One East table toppers Billingham play Hartlepool Rovers looking to extend their impressive start to the season. They have won their first six games but face their toughest test to date when they make the short trip along the A689.

Middlesbrough play Beverley in National Division Three (North) while in Durham & Northumberland One Stockton face a tough task at fourth-placed Gosforth.