Newcastle owner David Thompson has declared he will back director of rugby Rob Andrew all the way in the race row that has rocked English rugby.

Newcastle are poised to lodge a formal complaint with the Rugby Football Union, supporting Andrew's allegation that Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam racially abused Falcons' Tongan forward Epi Taione and spat in his face.

The alleged incidents happened during last week's Premiership clash between the clubs at Kingsholm, which Gloucester won 29-25.

French international Azam and flanker Taione were both sent off for their part in a mass brawl. They have been summoned to attend a RFU disciplinary hearing at Heathrow next Thursday.

Gloucester's millionaire owner Tom Walkinshaw has since banned Andrew from the Kingsholm ground and threatened legal action unless the former England fly-half publicly apologises and withdraws his claims.

Walkinshaw has announced the findings of an internal club investigation, categorically denying any evidence of racist abuse after consulting other players, stewards, spectators and the referee.

But, like Walkinshaw, Thompson has also vowed to fight the issue right to the bitter end.

"If Rob Andrew is banned from Kingsholm, then we, as a team, will not go to Gloucester," said Thompson, aware that the clubs could still meet each other during this season's Powergen Cup semi-finals if they win last-eight ties on Sunday week.

"We can't have unilateral behaviour like this, and I am astonished that Gloucester have chosen to personalise this and single-out Rob Andrew.

"Rob is representing the Newcastle club on behalf of the racially abused player," Thompson added.

"He is representing Epi Taione - it is not a personal Rob Andrew thing. A Newcastle Falcons player had racial abuse directed at him.

"We are not accusing Gloucester RFC and all their players of racial abuse, we're accusing one player.

"We believe, as a club, that we have to back our player, and we will follow the due process with the RFU. It is on video that Azam spat at Epi Taione - it is a matter of fact, not conjecture.

"We are not blaming the Gloucester club. It is an individual who made a racist, abusive remark to one of our players, and provoked the fight which led to them both being sent off.

"As a club, we cannot condone that, and we intend following it up in the proper manner. It would be easy to back off and do nothing, but we cannot afford to.

"We owe it to Epi, the club and the game, and it is the club's intention to press this to the ultimate. It was a slur on one of our players and we will pursue the requisite means to ensure it does not happen again."

The RFU have promised to investigate on receipt of any formal complaint from Newcastle, but the racism allegations are unlikely to be discussed next Thursday.

Azam has also issued a statement denying the allegations and demanded an apology from Andrew, as the whole episode shows no sign of nearing a conclusion.