The 2022-23 season of BUCS Super Rugby is just around the corner, as league champions Durham look to defend their title and make it three in a row. Durham open their season with a clash against Loughborough, who look to make amends for their National Championship semi-final loss to the Palatinate last season. Durham will need to find a replacement for their captain fantastic and all-time BUCS Super Rugby try scorer Fred Davies, who now finds himself playing in Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears side with fellow Durham alumni Fitz Harding.
The most recent BUCS Super Rugby National Championship winners Exeter will once again look to challenge for spot at the top of the table. In the last two seasons Exeter have been invincible at home with a 100% winning record, so a trip to the south-west is sure to be a tough test for any team. In round one, EURFC welcome the three time BUCS Super Rugby National Champions Hartpury to Topsham, in what should be a classic.
The league’s newcomers Nottingham will look to hit the ground running in BUCS Super Rugby with back-to-back home games in round 1 and 2 against Leeds Beckett and Swansea, before taking the short trip to neighbours Loughborough in round 3.
The Cardiff Clash is always a highlight of the BUCS Super Rugby calendar, as city rivals Cardiff and Cardiff Met battle for bragging rights. Last season, Cardiff Met won two thrillers at Cardiff Arms Park by three and one point respectively. These matches take place in Round 2 and Round 11, which will lead us into the Winter break.
Following a clean sweep of victories against their varsity rivals during the last campaign, Swansea host Cardiff in round 9, before the return fixture in the Welsh capital during the final round of league fixtures on 15 March 2023.
Elsewhere in the final round of league fixtures, Durham take on Leeds Beckett, Exeter travel to South-West rivals Bath, Hartpury welcome Nottingham, and in the tie of the round Cardiff Met host Loughborough. As teams fight for a top four spot and a place in the National Championship quarter-finals, round 18 in 2022-23 could be one for the history books.
BUCS Super Rugby continues to create a pathway for young players in the UK. From Dombrandt and Negri to Steward and Skinner, who will be next to grace the professional game? We might know the answer to that one but what we do know, is that in this league anything can happen - bring on another thrilling season of the best league in the land!
The full list of fixtures for the upcoming season can be found here.
