Cup kings Llanelli, who saw off Tata Steel 38-10 in Round One last weekend, must travel to Cardiff Met who were 14-7 victors over Blackwood to go through to the last 16.
Chris Davey, Cardiff Met head coach said, “I’m really pleased. It’s always the objective for the Championship sides to test ourselves against those from the Premiership. That’s the hope we always have when these draws come around. To play against a club with the history of Llanelli will be a big challenge. They are a good side who play a lot of running rugby and they’re going well in the league this season. But we had a good win in the last round and like to throw the ball around ourselves. If we can get an improvement in the weather and a decent track then I think we’ll have a good game.”
Cardiff face another club with a big history in Newbridge, at the Arms Park, while the other Principality Premiership sides already through to the next round – Llandovery, Aberavon and Cross Keys must secure away wins to progress further in the competition. Llandovery play the winners of Llanharan v Tondu (Saturday, 2.30), Aberavon travel to Narberth and Cross Keys must wait on the outcome of the rearranged match between Bargoed and fellow Premiership side Bedwas on Saturday (2.30).
Cardiff director of rugby Martyn Fowler said: “We are pleased to avoid one of the other Premiership sides but Newbridge at home won’t be easy. We will need to turn up with the right attitude, play the game in the right areas and make sure we give it our all. At the start of the season we set ourselves goals to be in the top six and to have a good run in the SWALEC Cup. It gives our players the chance to play against sides we don’t normally come up against and that’s certainly the case with Newbridge. We were knocked out of the Cup by a Championship side last year so we’ll be moving heaven and earth to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
There will be at least one SWALEC Championship side in the Cup quarter-finals with previous finalists Ebbw Vale taking on RGC 1404 at Eugene Cross Park. RGC General Manager Rupert Moon said, “This is the biggest SWALEC Cup date in our history so far having entered the competition last season. It would have been nice to reward our fans with a home draw but we’re certainly up for the tough challenge Ebbw Vale will bring to this encounter. We’ve lost both of our matches against them this season but as I know from my playing days with Llanelli, anything can happen in cup rugby and it’s not over until it’s over.”
SWALEC Cup Round Two draw (matches to be played weekend of February 15)
Cardiff Met v Llanelli
Carmarthen v Bridgend Athletic
Pontypridd v Newport / Bonymaen
Llanharan/ Tondu v Llandovery
Narberth v Aberavon
Bargoed / Bedwas v Cross Keys
Cardiff v Newbridge
Ebbw Vale v RGC 1404
AUDIO: RGC 1404 SWALEC CUP reaction with Rupert Moon
Round 3 of the SWALEC Plate and Round 4 of the SWALEC Bowl take place this weekend, with matches taking place at 2pm.
