The game, which kicks-off at 6.30pm and is available live on You Tube (Cardiff Met vs Durham | LIVE BUCS Super Rugby – YouTube), will start with a minutes silence and a minutes applause to celebrate the life of Dr Pugh, who died last week.
Having joined the academic staff at the university in the late eighties as Head Of the Education Department, he went on to become Dean of the Faculty Of Education and Sport on the Cyncoed Campus.
He ended his career as a Pro-Vice Chancellor based on the Llandaff Campus, taking a lead role in establishing partnerships to expand the international portfolio of the University.
As the Dean, he strived to enhance every aspect of life at Cyncoed for staff and students – the academic portfolio, extracurricular sport and some unforgettable leavers dinners. During his tenure the facility base at Cyncoed changed beyond recognition.
Based on enterprising partnerships and funding bids to the National Lottery, Sport Wales, the LTA and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Cyncoed saw the building of NIAC, the outdoor track, the astroturf, the tennis centre and the Wales Sport Centre for the Disabled.
He also supported the creation of the Centre for Performance Analysis, which became a world leading centre under the leadership of Dr Keith Lyons, working with the International Rugby Board and the WRU.
“John shared a vision for the development of sporting excellence at Cardiff Met. He backed the appointment of academic staff with a strong coaching pedigree to support this vision – Lynn Davies, Mitch Fenner, Julia Longville, Anna Mayes, Kevin Bowring and Chris Davey among others,” said Dave Cobner, another former Dean of Sport at Cardiff Met.
“He also supported the establishment of partnerships and scholarship programmes with UK Athletics the LTA and the ECB. When the School of Sport became an independent academic school, John supported performance sport from his position as Pro Vice Chancellor, chairing the Sport Cabinet as well as the rugby club.
“No matter what his academic role, John always had a passion for university rugby. Having previously coached Cardiff HSOB with his brother, the former WRU and IRB chairman Vernon Pugh, he took over from Leighton Davies as coach of the 1st XV.
“The team won the East District in successive years under John’s leadership but lost in the play-offs to Tonmawr and Cardiff HSOB before finally gaining promotion through to the National Leagues in 1993. Further promotions followed under his leadership and the team also won the BUSA Championship in 1996, beating Loughborough University in the final at Twickenham.”
These days the Cardiff Met RFC side is firmly established in the WRU Admiral Championship and in the BUCS Super Rugby programme as one of the top 10 rugby universities in the UK. During a typical week in term time the club fields 13 teams.
Having been chairman of the university club for more than 30 years, Dr Pugh was made Life President in 2022. A win over former champions Durham to keep Cardiff Met on top of the Super Rugby table after opening round wins over Swansea and Cardiff Universities would be the prefect tribute.
Meanwhile, Swansea University will chase their first win at St Helen’s when they welcome bottom of the table Nottingham University in a crucial clash. Both teams have picked up one point to date along with Leeds Beckett.
Cardiff University will be looking to pick up the pieces after losing 50-28 in the ‘Cardiff Clash’ against Cardiff Met at the Arms Park in the last round when they welcome Hartpury to Llanrumney (6.00pm).
