However Perpignan proved just too strong and tries from Charles Geli and Robins Tchale-Watchou either side of a second Jones penalty of the afternoon sealed a 27-13 win.

Perpignan went in at the interval 15-3 ahead after five penalties from full-back Jerome Porical, who also converted Geli’s try in the 55th minute.

Dragons lock Rob Sidoli was shown a yellow card moments before the score while Perpignan duo Armand Battle and Tchale-Watchou followed him for spear and high tackles respectively.

The defeat was Newport’s third straight in the Amlin Challenge Cup however they were missing six key players through injury.

Lloyd Burns is the most notable with doctors advising him to take a three-month sabbatical from the game following a neck injury – ruling him out of the upcoming RBS 6 Nations.

Exeter’s 50-10 victory over Cavalieri Prato sent them of Pool 4, which Newport are in, while Sale and Worcester were also big winners seeing off Rugby Club La Vila and Crociati Parma 69-10 and 55-10 respectively. Wasps were also victorious defeating Rovigo 32-11.