Teenage centre Emanuel to make Cardiff debut at Lyon

European Challenge Cup: Lyon v Cardiff

Venue: Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon Date: Saturday, 7 December Kick off: 15:15 GMT

Coverage: Live BBC Radio Wales, BBC Sound and the BBC Sport website and app.

Teenage centre Steffan Emanuel will makes his Cardiff debut away to Lyon, one of 11 changes for Saturday's opening European Challenge Cup tie.

At just 18 years and 159 days old, the Wales Under-20 international - who moved from Bath in the summer - becomes the youngest player to represent Cardiff in European competition.

Jacob Beetham returns at full-back, along with left wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb, while Ellis Bevan and Tinus de Beer take over at half-back from Callum Sheedy and Aled Davies.

Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd and Rhys Litterick form a fresh-look front row.

Seb Davies comes into the second row alongside Teddy Williams who captains Cardiff for the first time.

Flanker Alex Mann starts his first game for the region this season, with Dan Thomas also returning to the back row.

Lyon are second bottom in France's Top14 league having won four and lost seven games this season. Cardiff are fourth in the United Rugby Championship with four wins and three defeats from seven games.

Cardiff are twice-winners of the European Challenge Cup, in 2010 and 2018, while their French opponents lifted the trophy in 2022.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "We are all really looking forward to this weekend and getting stuck into a competition which we have a bit of history in.

"We are happy with our league position but this change in competition gives us a bit of a of a chance to freshen people up and give others in the squad an opportunity.

"Lyon are a massive club, regardless of where they sit in the Top14 and they have a pretty star-studded squad.

"I was fortunate to be part of the club when we won this competition in 2018, so I have some very fond memories. We have won it twice and I would love to get a knockout game at Cardiff Arms Park, so that's very much out mindset going into the competition."

Lyon: TBC

Replacements: TBC

Cardiff: Jacob Beetham; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Steffan Emanuel, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd, Rhys Litterick, Seb Davies, Teddy Williams (Capt), Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Rhys Barratt, Will Davies-King, Josh McNally, Thomas Young, Johan Mulder, Callum Sheedy, Harri Millard.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU).

Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam & Rob McDowell (SRU).

TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU).