The stars of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations are all set for another weekend of club action as the domestic season begins to reach its crescendo.
While some stars returned to action, clubs across all six nations are welcoming back even more of their international players for this weekend’s rugby.
Grand Slam stars back in action
Toulouse’s host of Grand Slam winners returned to action last week against Lyon, with Peato Mauvaka starting at hooker and Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Francois Cros, Romain Ntamack, and Player of the Championship Antoine Dupont all coming off the bench as their side ran our 27-19 winners.
They will all be looking to start this weekend as they travel to Castres, and will hope that back row Anthony Jellonch may also join them.
Elsewhere in France, Damian Penaud will be in action for Clermont as they look to bounce back from defeat to Toulon last weekend when hosting Brive.
Meanwhile, Toulon welcome back fellow winger Gabin Villière alongside prop Jean-Baptiste Gros as they face Lyon.
Top of the table Montpellier will once again be able to call on Paul Willemse in their second row, with the forward scoring two tries last week against Biarritz, while Italian Paolo Garbisi will also hope to be in action.
They face Perpignan who will be hoping they can call on the boot of Melvyn Jaminet, to the same extent that the national side did, as they look to return to winning ways.
Bordeaux welcome La Rochelle to Stade Chaban-Delmas, as both sides battle it out towards the top of the table and will once again have Cameron Woki to call on.
Their visitors will also have Grand Slam heroes to turn to, with Gregory Alldritt and Jonathan Danty available.
Finally in France, Racing 92 will hope that Gaël Fickou and Scotland’s Finn Russell will can help them to victory over Stade Francais after a 19-0 defeat to La Rochelle last week.
Saracens bolstered by England quintet
In England, the Gallagher Premiership is all set for another weekend of thrilling action as a number of sides strive for a place in the top four.
Saracens have six Guinness Six Nations stars in their starting XV as they travel to Sale Sharks, with Jamie George, Nick Isiekwe, and Maro Itoje packing down ahead of Max Malins, Elliot Daly, and Wales’ Nick Tompkins.
There will also be Guinness Six Nations stars in action at Sandy Park, as Exeter Chiefs take on Bath Rugby.
Chiefs have named Scotland’s Stuart Hogg and Sam Skinner as starters, while the visitors name Charlie Ewels and Sam Underhill in their pack.
Scotland’s Adam Hastings and Chris Harris will line-up together for Gloucester Rugby alongside Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit as they welcome Wasps to Kingsholm, with the visitors captained by England’s Joe Launchbury.
At Franklin’s Gardens, Courtney Lawes is named at blindside flanker for Northampton Saints while Wales’ Dan Biggar is joined by England’s George Furbank in the backs as they welcome Bristol Bears, with Saints looking to continue their late play-off push.
England stars Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant will start for Harlequins against London Irish as they look to stay in the top four, while Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe returns for Worcester Warriors against Newcastle Falcons.
Host of stars return to United Rugby Championship
In the United Rugby Championship, Scotland’s breakout star Rory Darge starts at flanker for Glasgow Warriors against Zebre, who name a trio of Italy forwards, Luca Bigi, Danilo Fischetti and David Sisi, in their starting XV.
Edinburgh also have plenty of Scotland stars involved for their trip to Lions, with Pierre Schoemann, Stuart McInally, Hamish Watson, Blair Kinghorn, and Darcy Graham all starting.
Dragons travel to South Africa to face Cell C Sharks, with Leon Brown and Will Rowlands starting in the forwards, while Ospreys welcome back Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Owen Watkin, Alex Cuthbert, Gareth Anscombe, and Jac Morgan for their game against the DHL Stormers.
Elsewhere, a host of Ireland players return this weekend with Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, and Jack Conan all returning for Leinster’s game against Munster.
Munster also welcome back their Ireland stars, with Peter O’Mahony, Joey Carbery, and Conor Murray coming into the side, while Ulster have named Iain Henderson as captain for their game against the Blue Bulls.
Connacht see Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham back in the fold as they face Benetton, who name Michele Lamaro, Monty Ioane, Ignacio Brex, Giacomo Nicotera, and Edoardo Padovani as starters.
Finally, Cardiff welcome back Tomos Williams, Seb Davies, and Josh Adams to their side to face Scarlets who name Johnny McNicholl at full back with Ryan Elias, Jonathan Davies, and Wyn Jones on the bench.
