Preview - South Wales Students Rugby League Challenge Match.

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This Sunday sees a bumper day of Rugby League at the famous Gnoll Stadium in Neath. A 1PM fixture between the South Wales Scorpions and Whitehaven will be followed by the first ever “South Wales Students Rugby League Challenge Match” between UWIC (Cardiff Met) and Swansea University at 3:15pm.

On paper UWIC go into the game as the big favourites following a successful season in the BUCS National South that saw them progress into the BUCS Championship Competition for the top 8 sides in the country. Conversely Swansea played in the BUCS Wales & West League, and were then disappointingly dumped out of the third tier BUCS Shield competition in the Preliminary round. Without doubt Swansea will want to prove they are better than these raw stats suggest, and give a big performance on the day.

While there are Wales Student Internationals on both sides, UWIC will again have the upper hand on paper in regards to the status of their players, with current Irish International Tom McGarr in their ranks along with new Scorpions signing Callum Wilkinson.

Paul Horrocks, club president of the UWIC side stated "Both universities have worked particularly hard in the previous few years to build respectable and competitive teams. This will be a great occasion to show off all that hard work and hopefully provide a wonderful experience for everyone involved. It has the potential to be another step in the right direction for Rugby League and the student game in Wales. Long may it continue."

Deri Galvin, club president of the Swansea side said: "Students at Swansea are eagerly awaiting the inaugural South Wales Students Rugby League Challenge Match. The match caters for the growing interest in Rugby League in Swansea and will no doubt be an exciting spectacle in a fantastic environment.

This match provides a huge opportunity both sets of players to perform at a great rugby venue, and if they impress the onlooking coaches from the South Wales Scorpions and new feeder side the South Wales Hornets, this game at the Gnoll could become the first of many for them.