Cardiff Rugby and Northampton Saints announce squad changes for Champions Cup

Cardiff Rugby and Northampton Saints are set to face each other in the Champions Cup opener this Sunday, with both teams announcing significant squad changes.

Cardiff Rugby will see the return of Wales international Taulupe Faletau, making his first appearance since March. The squad also features the return of Josh Adams from a calf injury, alongside several other changes including first starts for Semisi Paea, Tom Manz, and Rory Thornton. Head coach Corniel van Zyl noted the excitement surrounding the team's return to the competition.

In contrast, Northampton Saints have opted to rest four England internationals—Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, Alex Coles, and Manny Iyogun—to keep the squad fresh ahead of the autumn internationals. Director of rugby Phil Dowson has made seven changes to the lineup following a high-scoring victory last weekend. Callum Chick will captain the Saints for the match.