Steffan Emanuel will make his senior debut as Cardiff Rugby kick-off their European Challenge Cup campaign away to Lyon. 

The highly-rated centre, who returned to the Blue & Blacks in the summer from Bath, has starred for Cardiff RFC and now gets his opportunity with the firsts.

At just 18-years-and-159-days-old, Emanuel becomes the youngest player to represent Cardiff in European competition as Matt Sherratt makes 11 changes for the Matmut Stadium clash. 

Emanuel is one of five changes in the back-line with Ellis Bevan and Tinus de Beer renewing their partnership at half-back, while Jacob Beetham makes a welcome return to the back-three with Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Up front Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd and Rhys Litterick form a new look front row, while Seb Davies, Alex Mann and Dan Thomas also start. Teddy Williams captains Cardiff for the first time.

Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt said: “We are all really looking forward to this weekend and getting stuck into a competition, which we have a bit of history in. 

“We are happy with our league position but this change in competition gives us a bit of a of a chance to freshen people up and give others in the squad an opportunity.

“Lyon are a massive club, regardless of where they sit in the Top 14 and they have a pretty star-studded squad. We’re not sure what kind of team they will pick but it will certainly be full of quality and a big challenge. 

“But in this competition, especially early on, we know you can’t worry about the opposition. You have to focus on yourselves and imprint your own game. 

“I was fortunate to be part of the club when we won this competition in 2018, so I have some very fond memories. We have won it twice and I would love to get a knockout game at Cardiff Arms Park, so that’s very much out mindset going into the competition.”

The likes of Josh McNally, Thomas Young and Callum Sheedy provide experience from the bench, while Rhys Barratt also gets the opportunity to impress following injury to Ed Byrne. 

Cardiff Rugby: Jacob Beetham; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Steffan Emanuel, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd, Rhys Litterick, Seb Davies, Teddy Williams (Capt), Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Rhys Barratt, Will Davies-King, Josh McNally, Thomas Young, Johan Mulder, Callum Sheedy, Harri Millard.