Cardiff kick off their Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse this Saturday after a tumultuous few weeks.
Having suffered a nightmarish fortnight in South Africa, when the squad were caught up during the emergence of the new Omicron Covid variant when they were due to play United Rugby Championship games, selecting a team for their European opener has been a serious headache with a total of 42 players unable to play due to isolation, injury or suspension.
As a result of the obstacles thrown up by getting back to the UK and then having to quarantine for 10 days, Cardiff will be putting out something of a mix-and-match side including 11 first-team debutants, Academy players and semi-pros.
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Here's everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's match:
What time is Cardiff v Toulouse kick-off?
Cardiff v Toulouse kicks off at 1pm on Saturday, December 11, at Cardiff Arms Park.
What TV channel is Cardiff v Toulouse on? What about live streaming?
Cardiff v Toulouse will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2 and Channel 4, with TV coverage beginning at 12.30pm on both.
BT Sport customers can live stream the match on the app or website. You can also watch the match live on the Channel 4 website.
If you can't tune in, you can also stay updated via WalesOnline's rugby page, too, from Saturday lunchtime.
What's the Cardiff v Toulouse team news?
No fewer than 11 players are in line to make their competitive debuts for Cardiff Rugby among the makeshift group the region has cobbled together.
With a remarkable 42 players unavailable due to either Covid quarantine, injury or suspension, the capital-based region have turned to Academy youngsters and semi-pros to enable them to fulfil the fixture against the title holders.
Full-back Jacob Beetham, wing Theo Cabango and seasoned Aberavon loosehead prop Rowan Jenkins are the debutants in the starting line-up, which also features rookie front rowers Iestyn Harris and Will Davies-King.
Cardiff RFC stalwart Dan Fish comes out of retirement from pro rugby for a second time to slot in on the wing, as Josh Adams moves into the centre.
Adams is one of five Wales squad members who didn’t go on the troubled trip to South Africa who now start against Toulouse, with Willis Halaholo, Tomos Williams, Seb Davies and skipper Ellis Jenkins the others.
Toulouse have named a full-strength team, including scrum-half Antoine Dupont fresh from being named World Rugby's men's player of the year.
Cardiff Rugby: 15. Jacob Beetham; 14. Theo Cabango, 13. Josh Adams, 12. Willis Halaholo, 11. Dan Fish; 10. Jason Tovey, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Rowan Jenkins, 2. Iestyn Harris, 3. Will Davies-King, 4. Alun Lawrence, 5. Seb Davies, 6. Ellis Jenkins (capt), 7. Olly Robinson, 8. James Botham.
Replacements: 16. Evan Yardley, 17. Joe Cowell, 18. Geraint James, 19. Rhys Anstey, 20. Alex Everett, 21. Ethan Lloyd, 22. Ioan Evans, 23. Ryan Wilkins.
Toulouse: 15. Maxime Médard; 14. Arthur Bonneval, 13. Sofiane Guitoune, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel; 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (capt); 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Thibaud Flament, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 6. Francois Cros, 7. Anthony Jelonch, 8. Selevasio Tolofua.
Replacements: 16. Julien Marchand, 17. Rodrigue Neti, 18. Dorian Aldegheri, 19. Joe Tekori, 20. Yannick Youyoutte, 21. Antoine Miquel, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Juan Cruz Mallía.
Who is the Cardiff v Toulouse referee?
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Michael Hudson and John Meredith (England)
TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
Who was unavailable for Cardiff?
In isolation:
Forwards: Brad Thyer, Theo Bevacqua, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Carré, Liam Belcher, Kristian Dacey, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Keiron Assiratti, Scott Andrews, Matthew Screech, Rory Thornton, Teddy Williams, Will Boyde, Gwilym Bradley, Josh Turnbull, James Ratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes.
Backs: Lloyd Williams, Ellis Bevan, Jamie Hill, Jarrod Evans, Rhys Priestland, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Garyn Smith, Harri Millard, Jason Harries, Aled Summerhill, Owen Lane, Hallam Amos, Matthew Morgan.
Injured or suspended:
Rey Lee-Lo, Dillon Lewis, Josh Navidi, Mason Grady, Luke Scully, Sam Moore, Efan Daniel, Ben Burnell, Cameron Winnett, Gwilym Evans.
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