Following the conclusion of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, some of its biggest stars will be returning to action for their clubs this weekend, including many of France’s Grand Slam winners.
Although Toulouse had not confirmed their team at the time of writing, it is widely expected that Les Bleus captain and Player of the Championship Antoine Dupont will be back for their French Top 14 clash with Lyon.
Dupont could be joined by several of his international colleagues on Sunday, including Romain Ntamack, Anthony Jellonch and Julien Marchand.
Gregory Alldritt, one of the other Player of the Championship nominees, will start La Rochelle’s home game against Racing 92.
Centre Jonathan Danty is also among their replacements, but tighthead Uini Atonio is in for the start, as is Scotland fly-half Finn Russell for Racing.
Second-placed Bordeaux-Begles have included lock Cameron Woki in their line-up for their trip to Stade Francais, while winger Gabin Villiere starts for Toulon when they welcome Clermont Auvergne to the Stade Mayol.
Clermont themselves have named Villiere’s wing partner Damien Penaud on the bench and France are not the only team whose players are back in domestic action.
In the English Premiership, five of England’s players from the Championship are involved for Saracens’ match against Bristol Bears, which will be the first game of rugby to be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The match is also significant for the return of England fly-half Owen Farrell after four months out injured and he will be alongside Red Rose colleagues Max Malins, Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe.
Wales centre Nick Tompkins is also in Saracens’ line-up, while England scrum-half Harry Randall will be lining up for Bristol.
Two players who captained their country will be taking to the field for Northampton Saints when they travel to London Irish, as England back row Courtney Lawes and Wales fly-half Dan Biggar make their returns.
There is also a significant England contingent coming back into the fold for Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers, including full-back Freddie Steward, in their match at Exeter Chiefs.
Scrum-half Ben Youngs, who became the Red Rose’s most-capped men’s player when he earned his 115th cap against Wales in Round 3 of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, is also back as is loosehead prop Ellis Genge.
Two other England players will be lining up against them for Exeter in centre Henry Slade and No.8 Sam Simmonds, as will Scotland lock Jonny Gray.
In the United Rugby Championship, several Scottish faces are back in domestic action, including the tackling machine Hamish Watson, who will feature for Edinburgh against the Sharks in Durban alongside Blair Kinghorn.
Glasgow Warriors have the slightly shorter journey to Cardiff Rugby and they have named Zander Fagerson, Rory Darge (one of the Scots breakout players this year), Ali Price, Sam Johnson and Kyle Steyn in their matchday squad.
Cardiff themselves will have Wales duo Josh Navidi and Willis Halaholo involved, while their international colleagues Johnny McNicholl and Gareth Davies will return for the Scarlets against Zebre.
While Zebre themselves do not have any Italy internationals in their line-up, No.8 Toa Halafihi is back for Benetton Rugby, who travel to Munster.
