Wales stars boost Cardiff Blues against Falcons

Cardiff Blues have been boosted by the return of six Wales internationals as their European Challenge Cup campaign kicks off with a trip to face Newcastle Falcons on Friday (8pm).

John Mulvihill has made a total of seven changes from their last outing as attention turns to European affairs at Kingston Park, with four of those internationals going straight into the starting line-up.

Dillon Lewis comes into the front-row, while Cory Hill, who captains the side, and Seb Davies form an all-international second-row.

Shane Lewis-Hughes also returns with the ever versatile Josh Turnbull switching to the open side and Sam Moore pulling on the number eight jersey.

Tomos Williams and Jarrod Evans continue at half-back while Ben Thomas and Garyn Smith combine in the centre and Hallam Amos returns to full-back.

Mulvihill said: “It’s great to welcome some of our Wales boys to the squad this weekend and they have brought a lot of enthusiasm and energy to training this week.

“They not only bring further quality and experience to drive our standards but guys like Cory are also big leaders for us.

“We were all disappointed by our recent loss to Glasgow but following a de-load week, the boys have come back in, trained really well and are champing at the bit to make amends in a fresh competition.

“We have done well in the Challenge Cup previously and the boys are looking forward to the challenge of taking on a Newcastle Falcons team flying high in the English Premiership.

“It’s a very important time of year and we really want a big result up in Newcastle to roll into Stade Francais at home next weekend and then the Welsh derbies.”

Lloyd Williams and Rhys Carré also return from international duty and are named among the replacements.

Gwilym Bradley and Iestyn Harris, who made their senior debuts just weeks ago, and Ben Murphy are all also in line to make their first European appearances from the bench.

All 23 of Friday’s match-day squad are Welsh qualified with a staggering 18 of those products of the Cardiff Blues pathway and academy.

The Blues have not faced Newcastle in European competition since April 2010, when they secured an impressive 55-20 victory on route to lifting the Amlin Challenge Cup for the first time.

Newcastle return to the Challenge Cup following a season in the English Championship but they have made an impressive start to the current campaign with victories over Bath, Sale Sharks and Wasps.

Cardiff Blues: H Amos; O Lane, G Smith, B Thomas, A Summerhill; J Evans, T Williams; B Thyer, K Dacey, D Lewis, S Davies, C Hill (capt), S Lewis-Hughes, J Turnbull, S Moore.

Replacements: I Harris, R Carré, S Andrews, B Murphy, G Bradley, L Williams, H Millard, M Morgan