The Blue and Blacks are without 16 players for their trip to Italy this weekend
Max Pearce has joined Cardiff from Bath for one game(Image: Getty Images)
Cardiff have announced the signing of hooker Max Pearce from Bath for one game ahead of Saturday’s clash with Zebre.
The Blue and Blacks are short on hookers as United Rugby Championship action resumes this weekend, with Cardiff travelling to Italy. Liam Belcher featured for Wales in their opening two games before picking up a neck injury, with Steve Tandy then calling up Evan Lloyd as cover ahead of their final autumn Test against South Africa this weekend.
That leaves Daf Hughes as Cardiff’s only available hooker for this weekend, with Pearce joining on a one-game licence.
Cardiff are without 16 players for this weekend’s match.
As well as Lloyd, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas, Jacob Beetham, Danny Southworth, Keiron Assiratti and Alex Mann are all still with Wales ahead of the Springbok clash.
Belcher has returned to the club to rehabilitate, while Josh Adams is serving the final week of his suspension.
Theo Cabango, Teddy Williams, Rory Jennings, Ed Byrne, Taulupe Faletau and Johan Mulder are all sidelined with injuries. Joe Cowell is also on a short-term loan with Bedford.
Corniel van Zyl has welcomed back three Wales internationals, with Cam Winnett and Mason Grady starting in the back-three. James Botham is named on the bench.
Harri Millard and Steff Emanuel start in midfield, while Aled Davies and Ioan Lloyd are named at half-back.
Rhys Barratt and Javan Sebastian start alongside Hughes in the front-row, with Josh McNally and George Nott in the second-row. Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence make up the back-row.
Pearce is named on the bench after joining from Bath, with Ioan Emanuel, Harri Wilde and new signing Cornel Smit all set for debuts.
“It’s pleasing to get some guys back on the pitch and in training,” said van Zyl. “All of a sudden we have a few more backs to train with and that’s pleasing.
“We are obviously without the internationals but we knew that was going to be the case, we planned for it a long time ago and we have prepared well in this last break.
“We almost treated the past month like a mini pre-season and we have got a lot of good work in but now everyone is looking forward to getting back to games.
“It will not be easy out in Zebre and we all know that they have taken some big strides over the last 18 months. They are a very tough team to beat and they pride themselves on doing the basics well.
“They’re very good at the breakdown on both sides of the ball and they have some dangerous backs, who can swing a game at any time.
“But we pride ourselves on growing this season, getting better than not only last season, but week to week. We haven’t won away from Wales in some time and we want to get that win. This week is another opportunity to do that.”
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Harri Millard, Steff Emanuel, Tom Bowen; Ioan Lloyd, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally (capt), George Nott, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Max Pearce, Ioan Emanuel, Sam Wainwright, James Botham, Taine Basham, Ellis Bevan, Harri Wilde, Cornel Smit.
