With four games to go in the regular league season the Archers are in fourth place and on course for a home quarter-final. Both Swansea and Cardiff Universities are in the top eight and hopeful of making the knock-out stages.
All matches between the three Welsh teams in the 10-strong league have been close this season:
Cardiff Uni 23 – 26 Cardiff Met
Cardiff Met 27 – 26 Cardiff Uni
Swansea Uni 23 – 25 Cardiff Met
Swansea Uni 17 – 13 Cardiff Uni
Cardiff Uni 20 – 24 Swansea Uni
“We want to retain our status as the number one university in Wales and that adds a little bit extra to the fixture. It was very close at St Helen’s and we are expecting another tight one at Cyncoed,” said Met’s director of rugby, Danny Milton.
“Cardiff Uni did us a huge favour last week when they held Loughborough to a 10-10 draw and that means we are level on points with them with four games to go. The top two places look out of our reach, but a top four finish is the next goal.
“Durham and Exeter look set to claim the home quarter-final and then semi-final advantage by finishing first and second. Durham, as the reigning champions, are 12 points clear of third and fourth, while Exeter have an 11 point cushion.
“We want a home quarter final and then we can see where that takes us if we go through. It has been an ultra-competitive tournament to date this season and things are only going to get harder in the knock-out phase.”
After two good away wins at Leeds Beckett (30-15) and Hartpury College (34-29), Milton’s men will come into the game on a high. So, too, will Swansea after their 40-25 victory over Northumbria last week that included two tries from No 8 Cai Davies.
That bonus-point win kept Swansea in eighth and Cardiff’s draw meant they remained in seventh. Leeds Beckett are eight points adrift of Swansea, who they still have to play, and nine behind Cardiff in the battle for the last two quarter-final places. Cardiff Uni host Leeds Beckett in a massive match in Round 15.
BUCS Super Rugby Table
| P | Pts | ||
| Durham | 14 | 59 | |
| Exeter | 14 | 58 | |
| Loughborough | 14 | 47 | |
| Cardiff Met | 14 | 47 | |
| Hartpury | 14 | 35 | |
| Bath | 14 | 31 | |
| Cardiff Uni | 14 | 29 | |
| Swansea | 13 | 28 | |
| Leeds Beckett | 13 | 20 | |
| Northumbria | 14 | 7 |
