Rugby:Wales captain Sam Warburton will make his return from suspension in Cardiff Blues' Heineken Cup opener against Racing Metro. The 23-year-old has been out of action since being sent off in the semi-final defeat to France for a tip tackle on Vincent Clerc, for which he was handed a three-week ban.

But unsurprisingly Blues’ coaches Gareth Baber and Justin Burnell have elected to name Warburton in their side at the earliest possible opportunity, ahead of tomorrow’s testing Pool Two clash in Paris.

Other World Cup players making a first appearance of the season for the Blues, following the postponement of last weekend’s RaboDirect Pro12 meeting with the Newport Gwent Dragons, include centre Jamie Roberts, scrumhalf Lloyd Williams, lock Bradley Davies and prop Gethin Jenkins.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny and high-profile recruit Gavin Henson are among those unavailable due to injury.