Faletau and Adams back for Cardiff at Northampton
Taulupe Faletau and Josh Adams are set to make their first Cardiff appearances of the season as the club return to the Champions Cup against Northampton on Sunday. Cardiff reached the competition after finishing sixth in the United Rugby Championship last season, and see the match as a chance to test themselves against Europe’s leading teams.
Faletau, 35, starts after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in March, while Adams is named among the replacements after last playing for Wales against Argentina in July. Cardiff also give debuts to Leicester loanee Tom Manz and Jarrod Evans, who returned from Harlequins in the summer. The trip is followed by a URC match against the Sharks just five days later, a demanding turnaround that coach Corniel van Zyl says will require careful squad management.
- Faletau starts as Cardiff return to the Champions Cup.
- Adams is set for his first appearance of the season.
- Cardiff face a five-day turnaround before their next match.
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The Champions Cup is a European club rugby competition featuring teams from several domestic leagues. Cardiff qualified through their sixth-place finish in last season’s United Rugby Championship, a league that includes clubs from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Italy.
Cardiff are a Welsh professional rugby team based in the capital. Taulupe Faletau is a Wales international back-row forward, while Josh Adams is a Wales international wing; their returns give Cardiff more experienced options as they face English club Northampton. The fixture is part of a busy run, with a United Rugby Championship match against South Africa’s Sharks only five days later.