The international scrum-half completed his Premiership registration earlier this week and strengthens a Cardiff team that has won its last six cup and league fixtures – it’s best winning sequence in four years.
Gareth Chapman adopts a new role as he starts at full-back with Shaun James, in his fiftieth game for the club, slotting into the outside centre position.
Gareth Davies, top scorer for the season with 131 points in all matches, continues at fly-half and the only change in the pack from the side that won at Narberth last weekend is the return of Rhys James at hooker.
Cardiff: Gareth Chapman; Ryan Howells, Shaun James, Darren Ryan, Chris Czekaj; Gareth Davies, Owen Ruttley (captain); Ian George, Rhys James, Kristian Gay, James Down, Damian Welch, Adam Powell, Craig Everett, Rhys Shellard.
Replacements: Kieran Crawford, Phil Osborne, Daniel Partridge, Jake Thomas, Andy Williams, Lee Jarvis, Roger Davies.
