Champions first up in a huge test for the Met students
CARDIFF Met face a massive challenge when they launch their BUCS Super Rugby campaign this week, and not just because their first outing is away to last season’s league champions, Exeter University.
Travelling to Topsham will be tough enough, but the pressure increased last week when the two other Welsh teams in the top student rugby tournament in the UK both picked up amazing away wins.
Last season, Danny Milton’s Met side had to put up with ‘noisy neighbours’ Cardiff University as they entered the big time, but this term saw Swansea University join the party as well. And both of them got off to flying starts as Swansea triumphed at Loughborough University and Cardiff downed the reigning champions Hartpury.
“To be honest, I don’t think many people saw two away wins like that coming along. They were fantastic results for both Swansea and Cardiff and they have added some spice and pressure to our first game this week,” admitted Milton.
“It is brilliant to have three Welsh universities playing at this level and it means we will all be able to enjoy some very special derby days. We’ve always been able to consider ourselves the top dogs, but now there are two very good rugby programmes at Swansea and Cardiff and it is going to be a real battle to stay there.
“We are always looking to improve our programme and last weekend we had five teams with 111 players on the field. But as much as we judge ourselves by our rugby results, we also assess ourselves on academy performance and last year was the best we’ve ever had at the club.”
Like Loughborough, who play in National League 2, and Hartpury, who are in the Championship, in England, Cardiff met play in the Championship in Wales and are faced with a juggling act when it comes to playing their best team. That pressure has only increased with the Championship rising to 14 teams this season.
It’s a case of so far, so good this season in that event with two wins and a draw in their opening three fixtures. But battling on two fronts means they have to travel to Exeter for a Wednesday night fixture and then go to Ystalyfera on Saturday for a tough league match.
“We will make 15 changes from the team that beat Beddau 31-0 last weekend for our trip to Exeter this week. That doesn’t mean, though, it will be a weaker team,” said Milton.
“For instance, we can bring in Barry Karea at centre, who played for Exeter Chiefs last weekend, and our club captain Matt Marsh is able to come back in at scrum-half. We need to get as many points as we can early in the Championship season and then look to focus on our BUCS programme.”
The local tear-up with Cardiff University at the Arms Park on December 11 will be a key date in Milton’s diary. By then he will have Wales Under-20 cap Aled Ward, currently playing for Cardiff Blues A, and Ospreys development star Iwan Shenton available for his back row.
But the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down to Cardiff Met by their Welsh rivals following their sensational starts in BUCS Super Rugby.
Swansea University made a piece of history by becoming the first promoted team to win their opening game with their 29-13 triumph at Loughborough.
Meanwhile, their Welsh Varsity Match rivals Cardiff University came from behind at Hartpury to win 20-16 with fresher Ed Dunford, a Wales Under-18 outside-half, taking centre stage with his nerveless goal-kicking.