Cardiff Rugby have named a 29-man squad for tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium (3pm).
With under a month until the BKT United Rugby Championship kick-off, the Blue & Blacks take their preparation for their sesquicentennial season to the next level.
Daf Hughes captains the starting XV with Tom Manz, who has joined on loan from Leicester Tigers, and Le Roux Malan set for their first run out.
Fellow new signing Scott Sio is named among the replacements, while academy talents Sonny McCabe, Lloyd Lucas, Tom Howe, Sion Davies and Rhys Cummings are also set to step up.
Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl said: “We’re in week eight of pre-season now so it’s nice to look forward to a game. The boys have put in some hard work and are itching to play so it will be a good run out in Worcester.
“They are a quality team, they obviously won the English Championship last season and they will go strong at home.
“But for us, we focus on ourselves and this is a brilliant opportunity to test ourselves against a quality team. We can put into practice what we have been working on, test some new combinations and get some boys back on the pitch or to have their first taste of action in Blue and Black.
“Over the past three years we have been growing to be better as a team, as individuals and collectively as a club. That’s the focus again this year as we definitely aren’t the cream of the crop. The mission is to get better.
“Consistency of performance is a key one. Last year we were very good at the Arms Park so we would love to replicate that and get better away from home. Going to Sixways this weekend will be a great opportunity and experience as we prepare for a special season.”
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Cardiff Rugby team to face Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday:
Cam Winnett; Jacob Beetham, Harri Millard, Le Roux Malan, Elijah Evans, Callum Sheedy, Ellis Bevan; Danny Southworth, Daf Hughes (capt), Joe Cowell, Tom Manz, Rory Thornton, Lucas de la Rua, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Scott Sio, Sonny McCabe, Tom Cottle, Johan Mulder, Lloyd Lucas, Matty Young, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Rhys Barratt, Tom Howe, Sion Davies, Rhys Cummings.