Cardiff University Ladies’ Rugby 1XV team played their first three games in the Women’s National League. After an undefeated season, Cardiff Uni secured a promotion last year. This makes it their first ever season in the WNL, the highest standard of university women’s rugby in the UK. The league is composed of seven universities from England, Scotland and Wales.
After a demanding start to the season, the club were thrilled to be contacted by ex-England professional’s Emily Scarratt, Mo Hunt and Elma Smi’s podcast ‘The good, The Scaz and the Rugby’. The podcast has offered support to Cardiff , Edinburgh and Durham Universities being the only three universities in the WNL who don’t have support from a premiership team or the Welsh Rugby Union.
The other four Universities in the WNL (Exeter, Loughborough, Hartpury and Cardiff MET) currently have direct links to English premiership clubs or the Welsh Rugby Union. This provides them with an added advantage in succeeding in the most demanding league of Women’s University rugby in the UK.
Really tough game for the girls, we really left everything out there on the pitch. We go again harder next week.”
Cardiff Uni ladies were thrown in at the deep end facing rival Cardiff Metropolitan University in their WNL debut. Cardiff faced a confident MET side off to a promising start, MET scored in the first 5 minutes. Cardiff responded with a penalty kick from Wales U20 Ellie Tromans, narrowing the score to 7-3. Momentum continued in MET’s favour as they went on to score a further two try’s in the first half. The second half kicked off with both teams looking strong, however MET managed to take hold of the wheel once again, scoring another three try’s in quick succession. With an impressive push, Cardiff ’s Izzy van de Sande scored a strong try. MET however, managed to finish the game with a further three try’s, bringing the final score to 53-8.
Cardiff hosted Edinburgh University in their first home game of the season, kicking off with an early try by winger Niamh Roberts. Edinburgh, determined after a long road trip responded with two try’s in the first half. The half time score was a tight 7-10 to the away side. Edinburgh kept up their intent, scoring twice early into the second half. But it wasn’t over for Cardiff ! Eager to push back, Niamh Roberts scored her second try of the day bringing the scoreline to 12-22. Edinburgh finished the game off the game with two more try’s, bringing the final score to 1234 to Edinburgh.
In a remarkable third game of the season, Cardiff came close to an away win in Durham, falling short on the final score by just two points. Durham won the game 24-22.