Newcastle Falcons’ appeal against James Hudson’s four-match ban has been dismissed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The RFU made their decision on Tuesday evening on the grounds of ‘insufficient margin in the regulations to change the entry point’ and the skipper’s initial ban remains in force.

Hudson, 29, was handed the punishment after a panel adjudged the giant lock to have made a dangerous tackle from a kick restart during the 46-29 defeat at London Irish last month.

Sunday’s Aviva Premiership outing at Saracens marked the first of Hudson’s four-game suspension with the Falcons now heading into a two week break from the Premiership scene.

Games against Cardiff Blues (home) and London Irish (away) in the LV= Cup are now the Falcons focus, before Alan Tait switches his attention back to Premiership matters with an away trip to Northampton Saints on Saturday 29 October.

The Sutton Coldfield-born forward will return to action for the crucial Premiership showdown with Worcester Warriors at Kingston Park on Friday 4 November (kick-off 7.45pm).

Tickets are still available for Saturday’s game against Cardiff at Kingston Park (kick-off 6.30pm) by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or please click here.