Bates' Falcons will face Brive for a fourth season in a row

Newcastle Falcons coach Steve Bates believes their European Challenge Cup Pool will be a decent test of his side.

Falcons drew Brive, Cetransa and Parma in Pool Four of the European Challenge Shield and Bates is looking forward to revisiting some familiar sights.

"We have always enjoyed competitive matches against Brive. I am sure this season will be no different," he said.

"Cetransa El Salvador are a side we are familiar with while Overmach Parma will represent a new challenge."

FALCONS IN EUROPE Falcons have drawn Brive in their last four Challenge Cup campaigns Cetransa were beaten 97-0 at Kingston Park last season It is the first time Newcastle have been drawn with Parma

Bates led the Falcons to the last four of the competition last season, where a defeat by fellow Premiership side Worcester ended their hopes of silverware and a place in the Heineken Cup.

And Bates, who was handed the job of coaching Newcastle on a permanent basis in May, will be targeting another successful campaign this coming season.

"The European Challenge Cup is a tournament with significant interest for us, and as always we will be going all out to win the competition," he said.

The first round of matches will take place on the weekend of 10-12 October.