NEWCASTLE Falcons are planning a big night when they entertain London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on Friday, November 11, writes Tim Wellock.

It includes the biggest cash giveaway at a club rugby match, with one lucky punter walking away with £5,000.

Live music, fireworks, a Guinness Fan of the Match contest, a hot tub and a Sky TV big screen will add to the entertainment for what's being billed as the Friday Night Live clash.

There will also be a pre-match tug-of-war between teams from the two companies who sell most tickets under the Workmates Rates scheme, offering tickets at £10 instead of £17 for parties of eight or more on the North Terrace.

Further details are available on 0871 226 60 60, which is also the number to ring for special season ticket packages for students.

There will also be a six-a-side touch rugby festival for over 14s before the Friday Night Live match, involving teams with at least two females and no more than two experienced players.

There will be 24 teams in four groups of six playing everyone in their age group once at Newcastle Blue Star FC before the group winners go forward to play at Kingston Park half an hour before the big match.

All teams will receive ten tickets for the match and the entry fee is £100 a team. Contact Mark Foster on 0191 214 2804 for further details.

The Falcons' Powergen Cup tie away to Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday will be shown live on the big screen at Kingston Park at 2.30.

Newcastle lock Luke Gross, who had two seasons with Llanelli, said: "It will be a very hard match. The fans are relentless in their backing so we have to be ready for that noise factor. Stradey Park is an old stadium but it has a huge amount of tradition and it's a great place to play.

"Llanelli have been a little up and down but they always work hard and it will be a hell of a battle."