Newport have given up hope on having South African star Percy Montgomery available for their Heineken Cup group matches.

The Black and Ambers were hoping to persuade Western Province to release Montgomery this week so he could be registered before Friday's deadline.

"He won't be over until the 2 November. Western Province will hold him until the end of his contract," said Newport team manager Jim McCreedy.

Montgomery could be added to the squad if Newport were to make the quarter-finals, but that would need a dramatic reversal of form after three successive Celtic League defeats.

Winger Ben Breeze will not be considered for Europe either because of a serious knee injury.

Scrum-half Dai Llewellyn is also out of contention with continuing Achilles trouble.

But Australia-born centre Jason Jones-Hughes will be included after he recovering from a knee injury which kept him out virtually all last season.