Welsh Varsity results as Swansea University win rugby finale but Cardiff take overall crown

Swansea University's rugby team wrestled the Welsh Varsity Cup back from Cardiff in dramatic style, but it was the visiting University who won the overall shield.

The highlight of the Welsh student sporting calendar was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but was back and better than ever on Wednesday as thousands of students descended on Swansea. While Cardiff claimed the overall Varsity Shield for the fourth year in a row, Swansea came out on top with a 20-13 victory in the day’s showpiece rugby finale, with the men’s side winning the cup and shaking off the 78-7 defeat they suffered in 2019 after being forced to effectively field a second string side due to a fixture clash.

There would be no such rout this time around, however, with a tight, physical opening 10 minutes at the Swansea.com Stadium setting the tone for the rest of the game. Cardiff skipper Marcus Ramage proved a threat early on, and nearly opened the scoring after quarter of an hour only to be thwarted by some exceptional Swansea defending.

Assured goal kicking from Ed Dunford and Gwyn Parks meant the scores stayed level at 3-3 for most of the first half, but Swansea kept knocking on the door and got their just rewards shortly after the 30 minute mark as Benji Williams crossed for the opener off the back of a lineout. It was Ramage who got the visitors’ first try of the game after fantastic recovery work from Rhydian Williams set the captain free on the right wing.

Swansea snuck ahead shortly before half time courtesy of Parks’ trusty boot and nearly extended their lead moments after the restart as Tom Florence got the ball down only for Luke Pollock to hold it up. Cardiff went close themselves as Greg Ramage’s effort was chalked