DUBLIN — Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau will make his first appearance since March when Cardiff face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship at the redeveloped Laya Arena in Dublin on Saturday (19:45 BST). The 35-year-old, who signed a new one-year contract with Cardiff in the summer, has been named to start after six months out with a shoulder injury suffered at Sharks, a blow that ended an injury-hit campaign which also featured knee and calf problems.
Faletau is set to make his latest return as Cardiff, fresh from wins against Scarlets and Zebre, make seven changes for the trip. Captain Liam Belcher returns at hooker and full-back Matty Young, who scored at Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup last season, makes his URC debut, while there are also starts for Mason Grady, Aled Davies, Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas and Tonga forward Semisi Paea is poised for his debut off the bench. Faletau still has to get the all-clear to feature in Ireland but has been named in the starting line-up. "It's been a pleasing start to the season in terms of results but there is plenty to work on in terms of performance and we want to take another step forward this week," said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl.
Cardiff are without flanker James Botham because of a hand injury, while centre Ben Thomas has a calf problem and may not feature before Wales' Nations Championship squad is named on 20 October. The Blue and Blacks face defending champions Leinster, who claimed three bonus points despite two defeats in South Africa against Lions and Sharks. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named an entirely new starting line-up from the bonus-point defeat in Durban.
Leinster have a host of Ireland internationals available, with hooker and captain Dan Sheehan, prop Tadhg Furlong, locks Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, number eight Jack Conan, centre Garry Ringrose and full-back Hugo Keenan all playing for the first time since starting against New Zealand in the Nations Championship, while fly-half Sam Prendergast also starts. The Irish province are playing their first competitive fixture at the 20,500-capacity Laya Arena — formerly known as the Royal Dublin Society Showground — since 2024 after playing two seasons at Aviva Stadium during the redevelopment. Leinster: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Osborne, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Coffey, Usanov, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Conan. Cardiff: Young; Beetham, Millard, Malan, Grady; Sheedy, Davies; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Thomas, Faletau.