Newcastle director of rugyb Rob Andrew is looking forward to what will surely be a hotly-contested clash with Gloucester in the opening round of the Zurich Championship next weekend.

The Falcons return to Kingsholm less than five months after it staged English rugby's most acrimonious club game in years.

Gloucester's French international hooker Olivier Azam and Newcastle flanker Epi Taione were sent off for fighting, while Andrew later accused Azam of racially abusing his Tongan forward and Gloucester supporters were also dragged into the whole sorry episode.

The damaging racism claims sparked a Rugby Football Union-orchestrated independent inquiry, and Gloucester were subsequently cleared of all allegations made against them.

Both Azam and the official Gloucester supporters' club demanded an apology from Andrew, and they finally got one - three days ago.

"We will look forward to it," said the former England fly-half. "Playing at Kingsholm doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to us."

Gloucester rugby director Nigel Melville added: "I am looking forward to seeing Rob at Kingsholm - may he enjoy the experience."

Newcastle would have avoided a journey to the west country had they not let slip a 10-8 half-time lead in their final Premiership game at Northampton.

The Falcons lost 24-19, meaning that Saints pipped them for fifth spot and secured a play-off clash at London Irish in a repeat of this season's Powergen Cup final, which the Exiles won 38-7.

"We have been fatigued, but we've kept going and I am elated that we finished fifth," said Northampton coach Wayne Smith.

"We've done as much as we could to get up to fifth place. We knew we could do it, and we have."

Irish are certain of a Heineken Cup place next term and rugby director Conor O'Shea hinted that players could be rested for the Saints encounter.

"We will concentrate on the play-offs, but maybe it is a chance to give a few of the younger players a bit of a go," he said.

"We'll give it a good blast next week, and hopefully we will come out with a win, but a lot of the goals we set for this season have already been reached."

Premiership champions Leicester, who defeated Irish at Welford Road yesterday, ended up 14 points clear of second-placed Sale and have home advantage against Bristol in the play-offs.

And Sale, now with one eye on a May 26 Parker Pen European Shield final appointment against Pontypridd, complete the play-off picture by entertaining Wasps.

Zurich Championship line-up: Saturday, May 18 - 1pm, Leicester v Bristol; 3pm, Gloucester v Newcastle.

Sunday, May 19 - 1pm, London Irish v Northampton; 1.45pm, Sale v Wasps.