Cardiff continue their British & Irish Cup campaign with a visit to Sharmans Cross Road to play Championship club Birmingham and Solihull tomorrow at 2pm.
It will be a red letter day for No 8 Adam Powell as he plays his 100th game for the Blue and Blacks. Club captain Rhys Shellard returns to lead a team that shows nine changes in the starting line-up from the side that beat Pontypridd 22-16 in the opening pool game.
With Gareth Davies called-up for Wales Sevens’ duty, Chris Anderson starts at fly-half and player-coach Lee Jarvis provides cover on the bench. Jamie Ringer and Jake Thomas are unavailable because of injury and top-try scorer Ryan Howells is rested.
Cardiff team manager Gafyn Cooper said, “We were very pleased with our winning start to the campaign against Pontypridd last week and that has given us the perfect platform on which to build in this exciting competition.
“Cross-border fixtures are always popular with players and fans and we are looking forward to revisiting the midlands where, hopefully, quite a few exiles living in the area will come along to support us.”
Cardiff have played Birmingham & Solihull twice in pre-season matches in recent years. In 2005 they went down 15-75 at Sharmans Cross Road in a match which featured different line-ups in each half; two years ago the Blue and Blacks won a more structured fixture 46-21 at the Arms Park.
Cardiff: Craig Morgan; James Loxton, Gareth Chapman, Richard Jones, Jimmy Norris; Chris Anderson, Tom Slater; Ian George, Rhys James, Phil Osborne, Ashley Sweet, James Down, Nick Hampson, Adam Powell, Rhys Shellard (captain)
Replacements: Garry Horrigan, Daniel Preece, Matthew Veater, Daniel Partridge, Garyn Lucas, Lee Jarvis, Darren Ryan
