LONDON WELSH UNIVERSITY 10S AND OPEN DAY WITH CARDIFF MET

London Welsh RFC, in Partnership with Cardiff Met University and Wales in London Week, hosted the inaugural Uni 10s tournament at Old Deer Park on Saturday 22nd February 2025 against 2 strong Cardiff Met sides.

A league fixture led to the Druids being forced to withdraw at the last moment but some rapid recruitment saw the Barbarians fill the gap with a second side. Barbarians were drawn from LW Colts and U22's and were supported with players provided by the Welsh Exiles program, Exeter University and Hampton and Epsom schools. Thew event also provided our boys wanting to study at Cardiff Met a great opportunity to be seen by the Met coaching staff.

A few late withdrawals saw the first 2 rounds of the tournament adopt a Sevens format. Barbarian Wizards were comfortable winners with Ellis James, Tom Temperley, Armaan Shahid, Johnnie McFarlane, Luke and Tom Incledon, Alfie Thompson and Ben Nicholls stand out performers for Welsh in a very young but talented side. The second round saw Welsh even their teams and Met triumphed narrowly twice.

The tournamnet reverted back to Tens and the strongest Welsh Mix triumphed over a very strong Met side in an exciting game of rugby played at a high standard and at a rapid pace.

The tournament was. a huge success and hopes to be a fore runner to a larger event next year where all 3 Welsh BUCS Super League Universities being Met, Cardiff and Swansea Universities will be invited.

A massive thank you to Gareth Baber and Ben O' Connell (DOR and Head of Sport at Cardiff Met respectively). Also a big thank you Gareth Davies at Welsh Exiles, the London referee's society and DJ Powell on the decks in the stand playing a fine mix of Sinatra, Elvis and Jim Reeves to keep the festival mood bouncing!! A big shout out also to Tom Karminaris, Tom Incledon and Ellis James who also somehow found the engery to run over to RAG and play a full game for the Druids in their narrow defeat against a suspiciously strong Richmond side!