Newcastle Falcons will be without captain James Hudson for the first two rounds of the Amlin Challenge Cup after he was ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury.
The 6' 7" second-row, picked up the injury in his side's 22-17 defeat away to Exeter Chiefs last weekend and will miss Newcastle's first two Pool 3 matches.
Newcastle host Bourgoin at Kingston Park on Thursday, October 10 before travelling away to Montpellier the following week.
Hudson joined the Falcons in the summer of 2009 after spells with London Irish and Bath and was awarded the captaincy this season after becoming a focal point in Newcastle pack.
The 28-year-old helped England Saxons to Churchill Cup glory earlier this year and is replaced by Samoan lock Filipo Levei for Newcastle's premiership clash against London Irish at the weekend.
