Cardiff & Met are one victory away from becoming the first Welsh men’s team to be promoted to English hockey’s Premier Division.
The game on Sunday against Belper will be held at the National Hockey Centre, where Wales qualified for the 2023 men’s World Cup. A win will guarantee them the Division 1 title with the Cardiff side following Swansea women, who first reached the top flight in 2020.
Cardiff & Met have only lost two games so far this season, away to Durham University on the opening day of the season and then in February on the road to Loughborough Students.
The home side currently sit six points clear of second place Bowdon with a far superior goal difference, averaging 4.2 goals a game. The team features four of the recent World Cup squad.
Head coach Walid Abdo said: “I am absolutely delighted and proud of the outcomes this season. Our levels of consistency have been excellent. I genuinely think we have only played one bad quarter all year. It would be great to see the club and players competing in the top league in the country and a great reward for all the hard work.”
Paul Whapham, Hockey Wales CEO, said: “Having Cardiff & Met compete against the best hockey players in the UK will increase the visibility of our sport in Wales and provide our players with a chance to test themselves at the highest level.
“Playing in the Vitality Premier Division will be great preparation for our men ahead of major international tournaments.
“I am sure the whole of the hockey family wishes them every success at the weekend.”
