Teenage centre Steffan Emanuel will make history when he makes his Cardiff debut away to Lyon this weekend.

At just 18 years and 159 days old, the Wales U20 international becomes the youngest player to represent Cardiff in European competition.

Emanuel re-joined the Blue and Blacks from Bath this summer, having attended Millfield School, and has been featuring for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru.

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However, as Matt Sherratt rings the changes for the start of the Challenge Cup, Emanuel will be handed his senior debut out in France at Matmut Stadium, partnering the experienced Rey Lee-Lo in midfield.

There's also a return from injury for Wales international Jacob Beetham, who features for the first time since making his international debut against South Africa this summer.

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Having picked up an injury in Australia, he's back in the starting side as Wales full-back Cameron Winnett is rested. Josh Adams continues his return from injury, having started for the first time in six months last week, while Gabriel Hamer-Webb also starts for the first time this season.

At half-backs, Ellis Bevan and Tinus de Beer take over from Aled Davies and Callum Sheedy.

Danny Southworth, Evan Lloyd and Rhys Litterick form a new-look front row, while Seb Davies partners Teddy Williams in the second-row - with the latter captaining 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 sit second from bottom in the Top 14, having won four and lost seven matches this season. Cardiff, meanwhile, are flying high - sitting in fourth place after seven matches.

The Blue and Blacks have won the Challenge Cup twice, in 2010 and 2018, while Lyon lifted it 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."

Cardiff Rugby: 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.