Hooker Andrew Lewis will lead Cardiff Blues when they open their Celtic League campaign against Glasgow Rugby at Hughenden on Friday evening (7.30pm).
Also included in the new regional team are summer signings Craig Quinnell and Andy Moore in the second row of the pack and the other Andy Moore at scrum-half.
Also returning to the squad are Jamie and Nick Robinson and Ben Evans who have been with the Wales training camp during August.
Fly-half Nick Macleod will play at inside centre.
Several players are unavailable because of injury:
Pieter Muller back injury out for a fortnight
Ryan Powell shins a month
Craig Morgan shoulder a few weeks
Darren Crompton shoulder a month
Rhys Thomas knee being assessed
Jonny Vaughton hip and lower back awaiting scan
CARDIFF BLUES v Glasgow Rugby
15 Donavan van VUUREN
14 Nick WALNE
13 Jamie ROBINSON
12 Nick MACLEOD
11 Dean DEWDNEY
10 Nick ROBINSON
9 Andrew MOORE
1 John YAPP
2 Andrew LEWIS (cpt)
3 Kenneth FOURIE
4 Craig QUINNELL
5 Andy MOORE
6 Jim BRWONRIGG
7 Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR
8 Dan BAUGH
Replacements:
16 Ben EVANS
17 Ryan PRICE
18 Dan McSHANE
19 Nathan THOMAS
20 Owen RUTLEY
21 Richard JONES
22 Lee ABDUL
GLASGOW v Cardiff Blues
15 Rory KERR
14 Jon STEEL
13 Graeme MORRISON
12 Joe NAUFAHU
11 Gareth MACLURE
10 Calvin HOWARTH
9 Sam PINDER
1 Euan MURRAY
2 Simon GUNN
3 Matt PROUDFOOT
4 Andy HALL
5 Nathan ROSS
6 Cameron MATHER (cpt)
7 Donnie MACFADYEN
8 Paul DEARLOVE
Replacements:
16 Scott LAWSON
17 Lee HARRISON
18 Joe BEARDSHAW
19 Roland REID
20 Kenny SINCLAIR
21 Alan BULLOCH
22 Sean LAMONT
Directions to Glasgow Ground here.