'It's a good fit. He’s a Cardiff player, he’s got a good mentality'

As Callum Sheedy prepares to make his BKT URC debut for Cardiff, coach Matt Sherratt has been outlining just what the fly-half has brought to the group since arriving from Bristol.

“He’s a great character, with a good balance between switching on when he needs - at team meetings and on the pitch - but then off the field he’s into everything, trying to poke people to get a reaction and he’s already become a popular member of the squad quite quickly,” said Sherratt.

“He’s got a good attitude, a good skill set and he will give us composure and an air of calmness on the field.

“In pressure situations, those one point games, he will give us a little bit of assuredness. He brings some know-how and a bit of coolness.

“He is obviously a Cardiff lad, he grew up watching here, standing on the terrace for many years, so it means a lot to him to play at the Arms Park.

“It's a good fit. He’s a Cardiff player, he’s got a good mentality.”

Sheedy has got the nod at No 10 over South African Tinus de Beer who started every league game bar one last season.

Sherratt said: “Callum is experienced enough to know his first challenge is to get into the team because Tinus was outstanding for us last season, winning players and supporters player of the year. So it’s a real tussle to get the shirt.”

Sheedy is one of eight players making their competitive debuts for Cardiff against a Zebre team who have a new man at the helm, with Massimo Brunello having switched from his role in charge of Italy U20s to take over from Fabio Rosselli.

Cardiff Rugby

1 Danny Southworth

2 Liam Belcher

3 Keiron Assiratti

4 Josh McNally

5 Teddy Williams

6 James Botham

7 Daniel Thomas

8 Ben Donnell

9 Aled Davies

10 Callum Sheedy

11 Iwan Stephens

12 Ben Thomas

13 Rey Lee-Lo

14 Mason Grady

15 Cameron Winnett

Substitutes:

16 Evan Lloyd

17 Ed Byrne

18 Rhys Litterick

19 Rory Thornton

20 Alun Lawrence

21 Johan Mulder

22 Tinus de Beer

23 Harri Millard