The Welsh regional scouts should be out in force at St Helen’s tonight (Wednesday, 28 September, 6.30pm) for a Welsh derby between Swansea University and Cardiff Met – along with an expected crowd of up to 2,500.
The rivalry is real, the quality is high and both coaches, Hugh Gustafson and Danny Milton, are targeting a top four finish in one of the most entertaining and competitive leagues in UK rugby.
Swansea are into their third season in the top-flight and surprised everyone with a run of seven games last season to reach the quarter-finals. Included in their magnificent run was a 25-23 win against Cardiff Met on a famous, rain-soaked evening at Cyncoed.
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That reverse will no doubt be front of mind for captains Ben Gregory and Joe Cowell, old Wales U20 colleagues, in their team talks. Met escaped with a 25-23 win at St Helen’s in the opening match last season.
Despite that defeat, Cowell’s men managed to go all the way to the semi-finals before bowing out in a thriller at Exeter University, who went on to win the championship. Now the hard work begins again with 20 games to fit into the regular league campaign before the knock-out stages start.
“BUCS Super Rugby is so important because it gives players a second chance at becoming professionals. They come int university from academy programmes, schools and colleges across Wales and England,” said Gustafson.
“They live in each other’s pockets for two or three years, create a strong bond and now have great support from their university programmes. We’ve slowly caught up with Cardiff Met in pushing players through to the professional game.
“Max Nagy and Huw Sutton are both full-time with the Ospreys, even though Huw is still studying with us. It is an extra pathway for players to break into regional or Premiership rugby.
“It was a really proud moment for me seeing Max making a try-scoring debut for the Ospreys. He came to us as a really talented athlete who had previously been in the Northampton Saints academy.
“We gave him an opportunity to play a standard of rugby that is now regularly producing a replica of pro rugby. We have big crowds, the speed of the games and the ball in play time at Super Rugby level ae both high and it gives the players a feel for the pro game.
“Huw Sutton came across from England as a Welsh qualified player and has really taken his opportunity well. He has thrived in the senior environment at the Ospreys and is developing really well under Toby Booth.
“With the financial structures as they, rugby clubs can’t afford to contract every player. Some teenagers aren’t ready to play for the first-team and you need to buy them some time – not everyone is like Geroge North, who was ready to play for Wales at 18.
“What we offer them is a structured environment in which they learn about conditioning, can work on their skills and grow in confidence and ability.
“There used to be a pretty traditional way of breaking into the regions – School or College, Academy and then the Premiership. If you didn’t make it by 18 your dream was pretty much over. Some players had injuries coming through and didn’t have anything to help pick them back up.
“Now it’s a bit like a spaghetti roundabout approach with players coming into the pro game from all sorts of backgrounds. Super Rugby gives them a second chance to try to hit the peaks they couldn’t reach when they were younger.
“The more we can open up our pathways, rather than stick to a rigid straight line, the better it will be all round.”
Gustafson is the bridge between the Swansea University programme and the Ospreys and is looking to get off to a flying start this season in front of a big home crowd at St Helen’s.
“There is real pride in representing the university on the field and off it. That’s why we get such good crowds, whether it is rugby, ultimate frisbee or equestrian events,” he added.
“The culture we create here means the university wants to do well in any sport. Students come from all over the place to study in Swansea and they quickly become immersed in the sporting culture and want to support their own.
“After three years here they take a bit of Swansea away with them and continue that support in later life.”
Cardiff University also made the quarter-finals last season and head to Bath University for their opening round match. Ulsterman Luke Pollock is their captain this season and hoping to build on the great season his side enjoyed under the leadership of wing Marcus Ramage, who is currently playing for Leicester Tigers.
