University Touch takes over Cardiff Arms Park once again

With the University Touch Championships participating in BUCS for the first time this year, it was fantastic to see The Exhibition, a highlight of last year’s university calendar, return to the iconic and historic Cardiff Arms Park, writes Dominic Shaw.

Newcomers Exeter and Surrey joined last year’s competitors Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Loughborough Universities in an expanded tournament format, building on last year’s overwhelming successes.

Organised by Cardiff University, UTC South R1 Cup winners, the tournament delivered a showcase of the best talent in the university game.

The expanded tournament consisted of a round robin pool stage followed by three finals on a central pitch.

Hosts Cardiff topped the pool stages winning all of their games, closely followed by Loughborough, promising a thrilling final which did not disappoint. After 10 scores there was nothing to separate the two teams at full time; perhaps the fairest outcome after two brilliant performances.

Exeter took the bronze in a nail biting 1-0 win over Bath - just one chapter in an intense rivalry between two juganaughts of the University scene.

Surrey couldn’t quite muster a repeat of their performance, which took home the UTC R1 National UTC Cup, with Bristol avoiding the spoon in a 3-1 win.

“Success to us was facilitating memories for life to all of the players and referees who took part” said Cardiff President Dearbhla Neenan. “It isn’t often that Touch players or refs get to perform on such a grand stage and in front of so many spectators who aren’t necessarily players of the same tournament.

"The conditions deteriorated throughout the day with the Welsh weather ranging from snow to drizzle to hail and finally heavy rain. However, this didn’t stop the action with 200+ spectators being treated to a score on average every 100 seconds in the pool stages.

“We have to say a massive thank you to Dominic Shaw for running tournament control, both the ETA and WTA for supporting the event, our sponsors RedBull, photographer Sioned Thomas, Stephen Dubriel’s team of referees, Sarah Palmer’s outstanding social media content and all the universities involved for making the day all that it promised to be.

It is highly promising for the University game that this event is becoming an annual fixture within the university calendar, and is a blueprint of best practice that could be replicated elsewhere around the country, with England Touch’s team ready and willing to support universities who want to replicate what was achieved last weekend.

The 2022/23 BUCS University Touch Championships culminates in Nottingham this coming Saturday, March 25th.