Cardiff Met head to Leeds on Wednesday night for another massive BUCS Super Rugby clash, looking to build on their big home win over Loughborough in the last round (Live Stream https://youtu.be/7DXAE5WDh3o).
Aled Evans’ side have worked their way into second place in the top tier thanks to five successive victories after a poor start against current league leaders, Northumbria University. That 57-26 away defeat obviously taught them a lot.
Since then, they have beaten reigning champions Hartpury College on their own patch and also taken the notable scalps of Nottingham Trent, Bath and Durham as well as the 32-19 victory over Loughborough last week.
They were 20-10 winners in Leeds last season and then completed the double with a 19-10 triumph at home. They were two of only three wins in 14 games in the new tournament last season, but things have changed dramatically this winter.
Not that they can take anything for granted against a Leeds side that has only been beaten once in five outings this season and currently sit in third place in the table with a game in hand on the top two.
Durham University are the only team to beat them to date, 19-16, and they will be seeking revenge for last season. Their director of rugby is former Llanelli and Wales outside-half Colin Stephens.
As well as playing in the BUCS Super Rugby League, Cardiff Met are also battling in the WRU National Championship and also play in the WRU National Cup. It is a tough work load, but the Cyncoed campus remains one of the greatest rugby nurseries in the Welsh game.
Replacement prop Harri Dobbs was in the Wales Under 18 squad that toured South Africa last year, while flanker Dawid Rubasniak played for Ebbw Vale at the age of 17 and was in the Dragons U18 set-up.
Glantaf product Max Llewellyn has played at centre for Neath and the Blues Premiership Select XV, while wing Jordan Roberts came through the Scarlets Under 18 age grade system.
Cardiff Met: Tom Benjamin; Corey Whane, Max Llewellyn, Tom Morgan, Jordan Roberts; George Simpson, Ben Williams; Sam Cochrane, Jack Fielding, Harry Seward, Jack Arthur, Edoardo Balocco, Harvey Scott, Dawid Rubasniak, Aled Evans (captain)
Reps: Corey Lewis, Harri Dobbs, Joe Jackson, James Reed, Matt Marsh, Harry Johnston, Luke Northmore
* Swansea University will seek to inflict a first defeat of the season on arch-rivals Cardiff University in their BUCS League South A clash at St Helen’s, Swansea tonight (7.00pm).
Cardiff, coached by former Dragons and Wales lock Andrew Coombes, have won all five games to date and sit two points clear of Bristol University at the top of the table. They also beat Swansea in the last Welsh Varsity Match at the Principality Stadium.
The University of South Wales head over the Severn Bridge to face Bath University 2nd XV as they seek their third win of the campaign.