Warburton returns to action with Cardiff Blues

WALES captain Sam Warburton will return to action when the Cardiff Blues launch their Heineken Cup campaign in Paris tonight.

Warburton was hit with a three-week ban after being sent off for a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc during Wales’ agonising 9-8 World Cup semi-final defeat against Les Bleus last month.

But the 23-year-old is among five members of Wales’ World Cup squad who feature against Pool Two rivals Racing Metro, being joined by centre Jamie Roberts, scrum-half Lloyd Williams, prop Gethin Jenkins and lock Bradley Davies.

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny, though, misses out because of a foot injury, and recent signing Gavin Henson is sidelined by wrist trouble.

RACING METRO: G Germain; S Bobo, H Chavancy, F Estebanez, J Imhoff; J Hernandez, M Loree; A Lo Cicero, B Noirot, J Orlandi, K Ghezal, J Nailiko, J Leo’o, A Batut, J Cronje (capt)

Replacements: T Bianchin, E Ben Arous, J Coetzee, L Nallet, N Durand, J Wisniewski, V Vakatawa, R Vaquiin

CARDIFF BLUES: C Czekaj; A Cuthbert, C Laulala, J Roberts, T James; D Parks, L Williams; G Jenkins, T Thomas (capt), T Filise, B Davies, J Down, M Paterson, S Warburton, X Rush

Replacements: M Breeze, J Yapp, S Andrews, P Tito, A Pretorius, R Rees, C Sweeney, G Evans

Referee: G Clancy (Ireland)