Cardiff will travel to Kingsholm Stadium to face Gloucester for their first pre-season encounter on Friday night, with director of rugby Dai Young putting his faith in a number of youngsters.
Cardiff-based Wales internationals who were on Test duty this summer are progressing with their return to training but will be absent for this clash on Friday, September 2 (7.45pm kick-off).
Jacob Beetham - who made his senior debut in last season’s memorable tussle with Toulouse - starts at full-back and is joined in the back-three by Owen Lane and Aled Summerhill. Mason Grady links up with Max Llewellyn in the midfield while Lloyd Williams and Jarrod Evans are the starting half-backs.
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Josh Turnbull will captain the visitors, whose matchday squad contains a total of 13 internationals. He is joined in the back row by Shane Lewis-Hughes and James Botham. The front five consists of front-rowers Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey and Dmitri Arhip alongside a second row partnership of Matthew Screech and Seb Davies.
An extended bench includes a combination of youth and experience, with Wales under-20s hooker Efan Daniel, who made his solitary first-team appearance in January’s win over Leinster. Ellis Bevan, Teddy Williams and Gwilym Bradley are among the other youngsters looking to make their mark from the bench, while the more experienced figures of Rhys Priestland, Matthew Morgan and Rory Thornton have also been named among the replacements.
Cardiff will round off their pre-season preparations by hosting Zebre on September 9 before their United Rugby Championship campaign at home to Munster on September 16.
Cardiff boss Young said anyone not involved either has a niggle, a longer-term injury or played international rugby over the summer.
He said: "Gloucester went really well last season and have started off again with a good win out in Munster. We know from our own experiences that going out there isn’t easy, so it will be a big challenge for our team, especially without our internationals involved. But these are the challenges you want and it will certainly give us an indication of where we are before the season starts.
"That’s what you’re looking for in friendlies, is to find out what’s working and things you still need to work on to get to an area where you’re comfortable."
As for the hosts, Gloucester head coach George Skivington is also without his international stars like Wales' Louis Rees-Zammit.
He has named experienced midfield duo Mark Atkinson and Chris Harris at centre, while wingers Jack Reeves and Ollie Thorley join full-back Lloyd Evans in completing the back-three. Adam Hastings starts at fly-half alongside scrum-half Charlie Chapman.
In the forwards, Harry Elrington, Jack Singleton and Fraser Balmain form the front row, with Freddie Clarke and Alex Craig combining in the second row. Ruan Ackermann captains the side from No. 6, while the back row is completed by fellow flanker Harry Taylor and No. 8 Ben Morgan.
Gloucester face Cardiff after Gloucester United host Hartpury (5pm kick-off), also at Kingsholm.
Gloucester: 15. Lloyd Evans, 14. Jack Reeves, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Charlie Chapman, 1. Harry Elrington, 2. Jack Singleton, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Alex Craig, 6. Ruan Ackermann (capt), 7. Harry Taylor, 8. Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Henry Walker, Ciaran Knight, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Cam Jordan, Albert Tuisue, Ben Meehanm, Billy Twelvetrees, Jack Clement, Kyle Moyle.
Cardiff Rugby: 15. Jacob Beetham, 14. Owen Lane, 13. Mason Grady, 12. Max Llewellyn, 11. Aled Summerhill, 10. Jarrod Evans, 9. Lloyd Williams, 1. Corey Domachowski, 2. Kristian Dacey, 3. Dmitri Arhip, 4. Matthew Screech, 5. Seb Davies, 6. Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7. James Botham, 8. Josh Turnbull (capt.)
Replacements: Efan Daniel, Brad Thyer, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Teddy Williams, Gwilym Bradley, Ellis Bevan, Rhys Priestland, Harri Millard, Jason Harries, Matthew Morgan.
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