Here are your evening rugby headlines for Friday, December 6.

Wales star offers update from hospital bed after surgery

Dragons back-row Shane Lewis-Hughes has offered an update from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery to have his finger amputated.

The three-cap Wales international had the ring finger of his right hand amputated on Friday to carry on playing rugby, as well as reduce the risk of needing further surgery on an injury that has plagued him for nearly a decade.

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Remarkably, the 27-year-old now hopes to return to playing within a matter of weeks.

In a video posted by the Dragons on social media, Lewis-Hughes offered an update from his hospital bed - where he said that the surgery had been "a success".

"Spoke to the surgeon, he said it all went well," he said. "He's expecting a full recovery.

"So it should only be a couple of weeks. Nine fingers now, but looking forward to living a pain-free life and getting back to rugby as soon as possible."

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Scarlets without Davies for European opener

Gareth Davies will miss Scarlets' Challenge Cup opener at Bayonne on Saturday with a minor hip issue.

Efan Jones starts for the first time this season in place of the Wales scrum-half, as Dwayne Peel makes 10 changes for the trip to France.

Tom Rogers is back from a calf injury suffered with Wales to start, with Test duo Eddie James and Joe Roberts also back in midfield. The trip to Bayonne marks the first appearance of the season for centre Roberts after a knee injury.

Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans and Sam Wainwright make up a new-look front-row, while there's changes in the second-row too. Jac Price partners Scotland lock Alex Craig, who also captains the side.

Jarrod Taylor also comes into the side, replacing skipper Josh Macleod. Full-back Ioan Nicholas will make his 100th appearance for the region, while Archer Holz is set to make his debut off the bench.

"We are taking on a side who have been going well in the Top14, but you have to enjoy going to France and relish the challenge of playing in front of a noisy, partisan French crowd," said Peel.

"Two seasons ago, we went on to reach the semi-final of this competition and it was a great time for the club. Traditionally we have been a team that enjoys Europe, we have the depth in the squad that allows us to rotate and still be competitive and we want to be in those knockout matches.

"It is going to be a tough pool with some good teams, but we back ourselves as a good team as well."

Bayonne: Cheikh Tiberghien; Nadir Megdoud, Guillaume Martocq, Manu Tuilagi, Mateo Carreras; Camille Lopez (capt), Guillaume Rouet; Martin Villar, Lucas Martin, Pieter Scholtz, Denis Marchois, Veikoso Poloniati, Rodrigo Bruni, Baptiste Heguy, Uzair Cassiem.

Replacements: Torsten van Jaarsveld, Andy Bordelai, Pascal Cotet, Baptiste Chouzenoux, Giovanni Habel-Kuffner, Baptiste Germain, Joris Segonds, Tom Spring.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Efan Jones; Kemsley Mathias, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig (capt), Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Isaac Young, Sam O'Connor, Archer Holz, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Macs Page.

Lions legend's nephew set for European debut

Evan O'Connell, nephew of former Lions and Ireland captain Paul, will make his Champions Cup debut in the clash against Stade Francais at Thomond Park today.

The young lock will feature in the competition - which his uncle won twice with Munster - for the first time, just a week after making his United Rugby Championship debut.

Munster welcome back some Irish stars, with Tadhg Beirne on the bench.

Jack Crowley and Craig Casey are set to replace Billy Burns and Ethan Coughlan in the half-back positions, while Shane Daly is poised to make his 100th appearance as he steps in for Mike Haley at full-back.

Calvin Nash will return to the right wing, taking over from Shay McCarthy, with Tom Farrell and Alex Nankivell maintaining their successful centre partnership.

Farrell, winger Thaakir Abrahams and short-term prop signing Dian Beuler are all set to make their Champions Cup debuts for Munster.

The pack sees just one change, with Peter O’Mahony returning and Jack O’Donoghue moving to the replacements bench, which also includes scrum-half Paddy Patterson due to Conor Murray being side-lined through injury.

All Black star set for Leinster debut

All Blacks star Jordie Barrett is set to make his highly-anticipated Leinster debut on Sunday against Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup.

The 27-year-old’s sabbatical in Ireland was announced back in April, but only now that his duties with the All Blacks have ended can he pull on the blue jersey.

He features on a bench that includes Springbok lock RG Snyman and Ireland captain Caelan Doris.

The Kiwi will start on a bench that is not lacking in world-class talent with South Africa lock RG Snyman and Ireland captain Caelan Doris named among the substitutes by Leo Cullen.

The four-time European champions have welcomed back an host of Ireland internationals for the trip to Ashton Gate. Sam Prendergast wears the 10 jersey a week after starting against Australia, partnering Jamison Gibson-Park.

Bristol also welcome back from Test experience, with England internationals Ellis Genge and Harry Randall back after being rested against Harlequins last week.