Cardiff Rugby have made seven changes for Saturday night’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash against Leinster (19:45).

The Blue & Blacks travel to Dublin for the opening of the Laya Arena on the back of two wins in the opening two rounds of the championship.

Corniel van Zyl has opted to refresh his side and has been boosted by the return to availability of Taulupe Faletau and Aled Davies, while Matty Young is handed his URC debut. 

Four of the changes come in the pack, with Danny Southworth making his first appearance of the season and Liam Belcher returning to captain the team.

The second-row remains unchanged, while Dan Thomas is back on the openside flank and Faletau makes his first appearance since January. 

In the backs, Davies returns to fitness to start at scrum-half, while both Le Roux Malan and Harri Millard move inside to combine in the centre. 

Mason Grady has also been passed fit to start on the wing, with Young, who made his first team debut in last season’s European Challenge Cup, rewarded for some fine form for Cardiff RFC. 

Van Zyl said: “We are really excited to travel to Ireland for what will be a big test against the URC champions. 

“It’s been a pleasing start to the season for us 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.

“It’s the opening of the redeveloped RDS, their first home game of the season and with the Ireland internationals potentially returning, there is no doubt that Leinster will be really fired up.

“But that is exactly the kind of challenge we want, it is an exciting weekend and we have made a few changes due to a combination of injuries and the need to rotate and give others important game time. 

“We have prepared well, with an eight-day turnaround, and will do everything we can to put our best on the pitch for 80 minutes on Saturday night.”  

Summer signing Semisi Paea is included for the first time on the replacements bench, while George Nott also returns to the match-day squad. 

Cardiff Rugby team to face Leinster Rugby at the Laya Arena on Saturday, October 10 at 19:45: 

Matty Young; Jacob Beetham, Harri Millard, Le Roux Malan, Mason Grady; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (capt), Javan Sebastian, Josh Mcally, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Rhys Barratt, Sam Wainwright, George Nott, Semisi Paea, Johan Mulder, Jarrod Evans, Steffan Emanuel