Cardiff Met celebrated a dynamic double triumph in the opening fixtures of this year’s Cardiff Clash, setting the tone for another thrilling season of university rugby.

Over 6,000 students packed into Cardiff Arms Park for a night of rugby excellence, with the showpiece event once again proving a highlight in the university’s sporting calendar. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish, as fans from both universities filled the stands with colour, noise, and anticipation.

The evening began with the women’s fixture, where Cardiff Met delivered a commanding performance to claim an emphatic 59-0 victory, showcasing their pace, power, and precision across the park.

As the main event kicked off, chants from both sides echoed around the stadium as players emerged from the smoke and into the spotlight.

Cardiff University struck first, as scrum-half Finn Charles finished a brilliant solo effort within the opening 10 minutes to give his side the lead. Met then hit back quickly with a converted try to level the score.

A scrappy spell followed, featuring missed penalties and a disallowed try, before Uni regained control through Joshua Twigg, who powered over after sustained pressure to make it 7-14. Their momentum grew further when Met hooker Cerith Davied was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle just 20 minutes in, leaving the home side with 14 men.

Cardiff took full advantage, with Ollie Stirling crossing for two tries in quick succession, either side of a Met score, to extend Uni’s lead to 14-28 with 10 minutes left in the half.

But Met refused to yield. Two quickfire tries before the break swung the momentum dramatically, cutting the deficit to just two points at halftime, 26-28.

The second half belonged entirely to Met, with an early try putting them ahead for the first time, and from there they never looked back. Cardiff Uni’s resilience couldn’t withstand the onslaught, as Met then ran in a series of unanswered tries to seal a 56-28 win and claim the full five league points.

Both fixtures showcased the best of university rugby, with intensity, skill, and fierce rivalry being a key highlights throughout the evening. Cardiff Uni will look to bounce back in the reverse fixture later this year, with the two sides set to meet again at Cardiff Arms Park on December 3rd, where another classic Clash awaits.