Cardiff Metropolitan claimed a dream double as university rugby teams from within the Blues region competed at the inaugural Cassidian University Cup at the Arms Park on Wednesday.
The 15-a-side competition captured the imagination of students within the region as thousands of fans turned up throughout the day to watch Cardiff Metropolitan, Cardiff University, Cardiff Medicals and the University of South Wales do battle.
Players from the Blues also got right behind the competition with our Lions acting as ambassadors. Gethin Jenkins (University of South Wales), Sam Warburton (Cardiff University), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Metropolitan) and Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Medicals) were all at the event on the day to show their support and have pictures taken with the teams.
The women’s competition was fiercely contested by the University of South Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan and Cardiff University. However, it was Cardiff Metropolitan who were crowned champions as they scored a stunning 90-points unanswered over two games.
The men’s competition saw Cardiff Metropolitan first to progress to the final after they defeated Cardiff Medicals 25-5. Cardiff University soon followed them as overcame the University of South Wales 17-0 in a physical encounter.
The third/fourth place play off was won by the University of South Wales before an epic final was narrowly taken 11-7 by Cardiff Metropolitan who not only claimed the first-ever Cassidian University Cup but also the top prize of £2,500 worth of Gilbert equipment.
Rhys Blumberg, Head of Sales and Marketing at Blues, said: “We were thrilled with how successful the entire day was and how many students came to the Arms Park, supported the event and got behind their teams.
“Ultimately every university was a winner on the day as they kept 50% of the tickets sales sold through their outlets, thus enabling them to generate money to be ploughed back into their sporting sections.
“Thank you to our title sponsor for the event, Cassidian, and all four universities for their help and support with the first-ever University Cup. We are already looking forward to next year’s event and seeing if Cardiff Metropolitan can defend both titles!”