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Whether the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education, University of Wales Institute Cardiff or as they are known today Cardiff Metropolitan; Cyncoed has long been synonymous with sporting excellence.

Its alumni reads like a who’s who of rugby’s great stars. The club runs nine teams every week, which is a logistical miracle in itself when most clubs can’t manage two!

Cardiff Met enjoy the benefits of cutting edge sporting sciences, top coaching, illustrious guest coaches and consequently are always up to date with all the annual innovations the game produces. They are always served by extremely talented, dedicated, disciplined and supremely fit competitors.

Fighting on two fronts, the WRU Championship and the extraordinarily competitive British Universities league and Cup, the ‘Met’ need all the human playing resources at their disposal.

Their presence in the Championship was threatened until the penultimate round of fixtures and when the season was concluded they finished six points about the final relegation spot.

Winning seven and drawing two of their twenty-two games in 2017-2018, it was their great early season form that allowed the students to hold onto their Championship place. A narrow 27-22 loss to Tata preceded three excellent victories against Narberth, Newcastle Emlyn and Glynneath.

Beating their relegation rivals ensured survival and Cardiff Met thankfully remained in the Championship. Their style of play offers something different to a generally generic tactical template among rugby clubs.

One advantage to playing rugby on two fronts is the ability to play meaningful fixtures throughout the usually periods of inertia during the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations.

So it is to Cyncoed where the Quins’ will make their Championship bow and compete at their highest level. Excitement is never far away at the start of a new semester, but 2018-2019 is extra special for this very reason.

Some in the locality feel attaining Championship status is not particularly significant. For many former Quins players they only played ‘Junior Union’ matches, until gaining full WRU status in 1988 [yes a mere thirty years ago].

Placed in Division 3 of the Wistech Central Glamorgan League, Quins competed against clubs from the Bridgend area to Port Talbot. Therefore, to have worked their way up to Division One of the Wistech league and witness the march from Division Eight of eight in the National Leagues to the second tier of amateur rugby – it is an incredibly big deal for Quins, from the clubs loyal nonagenarian and octogenarian followers to the more recent supporters and the Munchquins.

It has become an even bigger deal to play well with the decision to relegate a third of the clubs at the end of the season. Nevertheless, these are the rules and at least clubs know where they stand prior to the season.

After three successful pre-season matches, Quins know what they are capable of doing and what they have to work on. There have been some extremely pleasing performances from the usual culprits. Additionally, there has been the added bonus of clearly manifest improvements among some that shows they have worked hard to play an even bigger part than they already have in the club’s rise. Furthermore, this summer’s signings have proven potent. They will create the competition and add the strength in depth needed to compete in the Championship.

For the perennial panel of beer supping selectors, there will always be debate. For those actually responsible for selecting the teams they have plenty of food for thought.

Should Lee Ronan play on Saturday, it will be his 150^th appearance for the club.

Whatever the team; whomever they play; wherever they take the field; there will be a crowd there to shout the Quins on.

The excitement is building. Ymlaen y Cwins.