![\"Faletau](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_CDF_250425_KA_Cardiff_v_Munster_084JPG.jpg\")
Faletau has signed a new deal to stay at Cardiff(Image: Kian Abdullah\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\nTaulupe Faletau will make his first appearance of the season in Cardiff’s east Wales derby against the Dragons on Friday nightFaletau has signed a new deal to stay at Cardiff(Image: Kian Abdullah\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n
Taulupe Faletau<\/a> will offer Steve Tandy<\/a> a massive boost as he returns from injury just days before the new Wales head coach names his squad for the autumn.<\/p>\n The talismanic No. 8 starts for Cardiff<\/a> against his former club Dragons on Friday night at Rodney Parade (kick-off: 7.45pm), with the 34-year-old making his return from a calf injury. Tandy names his first Wales squad on October 21, ahead of the first autumn fixture against Argentina on November 9.<\/p>\n Faletau hasn’t featured since Wales’ first Test against Japan in Kitakyushu back in July.<\/p>\n He lines up alongside in-form Dan Thomas and Wales international Alex Mann in the Cardiff back-row in the east Wales derby in Newport<\/a>, going up against Wales team-mate Aaron Wainwright.<\/p>\n “Whenever he’s on the team-sheet, he always lifts everybody’s confidence in the team,” said Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl on Faletau. “We know what we can do. Hopefully he can bring that to the pitch.”<\/p>\n Wainwright starts in a much-changed Dragons team following their 49-0 defeat to Glasgow last week<\/a>, with Shane Lewis-Hughes and Wales U20s captain Harry Beddall starting alongside him.<\/p>\n There are just five survivors from the Dragons’ starting side in Scotland – with only Harri Ackerman, Aneurin Owen, Fine Inisi, Seb Davies and Lewis-Hughes keeping their places as the Men of Gwent search for their first victory over Cardiff in a decade.<\/p>\n Elsewhere in the Cardiff team, Wales loosehead Corey Domachowski makes his first appearance of the campaign for Cardiff, while George Nott starts following Wales second-row Teddy Williams’ serious foot injury last weekend.<\/p>\n In the Cardiff back, Josh Adams is back after completing his return to play protocols, while Ben Thomas also starts after completing his two-match ban.<\/p>\n He starts in midfield alongside Jacob Beetham, who will play in his fourth different position in as many games.<\/p>\n Having come off the bench to play inside centre in the opening match, he now adds a start at outside centre alongside outings at full-back and wing to his busy start to the season.<\/p>\n Van Zyl has also opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, allowing him to call upon former Dragons back-row Taine Basham upon his return to Rodney Parade.<\/p>\n Dragons RFC: Angus O\u2019Brien (C), Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman, Fine Inisi, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (C), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright<\/p>\n Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Niall Armstrong, Cai Evans, Huw Anderson.<\/p>\n Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (C), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau.<\/p>\n Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Taine Basham, Johan Mulder, Ioan Lloyd.<\/p>\n * Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here<\/a> and our WhatsApp channel here<\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on social media on our X account<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok.<\/a><\/p>\n For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.<\/a><\/p>\n