Vikas Meijer Interview: “BUCS Super Rugby allows players to keep all doors open”
Vikas Meijer in action for his national side the Netherlands
©RugbyShots
Fine margins have become a familiar theme for Cardiff Met throughout this BUCS Super Rugby campaign.
Win or lose, certainty is a rare commodity when the Archers take to the field.
Narrow defeats against the leading pair of Loughborough and Bath have been matched by hard-earned victories over Welsh rivals Cardiff and Swansea, ensuring that Met fixtures are seldom decided until the final whistle.
That pattern continued last week against third-placed Exeter University, as another nip-and-tuck contest was settled in the dying moments.
With the clock winding down and the pressure mounting, Dutch firecracker Vikas Meijer kept his cool to not only assist the game-levelling try but also slot the decisive conversion, sealing a dramatic 30-28 victory and Cardiff Met’s fifth win of the season.
Meijer has been one of Met’s top performers since he arrived in 2023, winning the hearts and minds of his fellow colleagues and fans.
His rugby journey has been crowned with accomplishments and successes, as he was one of the youngest players ever to debut for the Netherlands and a key member of the 2023 U20 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship-winning team.
Having settled down in Cardiff for the last few years, the Economics student has been branded as an all-out threat for any team that has to face the Archers.
But how did he discover the world of the BUCS Super Rugby?
Well, it was all down to former Dutch coach Lyn Jones, who gave Meijer a little nudge towards the university game.
“Lyn Jones gave me a push, as he told me to have a look into the UK’s university rugby,” said the 21-year-old fly-half/full-back.
“He told me that not only is it a great opportunity to play rugby, but also to get a degree - and that’s how the Cardiff Met journey kicked off.”
Meijer goes into greater detail about his decision to pursue rugby within the UK university system.
“I decided to go to the UK not only because of my studies, but also because of rugby.
“I had won best player of the year in my club, and my friends, family, teammates and staff told me that I had to do something with it.”
Meijer, who has been involved with the Dutch senior squad after years of excellence as a youth player, made the decision to follow his dream after a brief time in the Stellenbosch Academy of Sports.
“When I got to 17, and after playing for the Dutch national youth teams, I took a gap year and went to South Africa to enrol in the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.
“I wanted to figure out if the life of a professional rugby player was for me, and if I had what it took to become one.”
As he was not unfamiliar with leaving home, after previously living in Hong Kong for a while, Meijer booked a flight to the UK, packed his bags, enrolled in Cardiff Met and departed towards a new future.
“The moment I landed in the UK was enticing as I got into the performance squad immediately,” Meijer explains.
“I was just a little bit nervous, but that’s normal, because I didn’t want to make any mistakes. However, if I wanted to achieve my goals, I had to be confident. I couldn’t allow myself to be afraid.”
After his first pre-season, the versatile back moved into Cardiff Met’s 2nd XV before making his debut for the BUCS Super Rugby side against Nottingham in October 2023.
“I started in it, played 80 minutes and then got on the plane and travelled to Prague to join the national team in the U20s Rugby Europe Championship,” recalls Meijer.
“It was quite the rollercoaster. One moment I was on my couch in Uni browsing my phone and finding out I was starting for the team, and then I was in Czechia helping my country in the U20s.”
So, since late 2023, Meijer’s life has been a jump between BUCS Super Rugby and joining the Dutch national teams.
But going back to Cardiff Met, he has enjoyed more than a few great moments with the Archers, with the 2024/25 BUCS Championship quarter-final against Bath one of his favourite memories.
Reflecting on Met’s 35-28 away success, Meijer says: “They were the favourites, but we managed to put up a great show, and I even got Player of the Match in that one.
“We were down by 20 points after the first 20 minutes, but we came back and won. I will treasure that game forever.”
From setting up tries, converting long-range kicks and leading his team, Meijer’s favourite moment from that game was a special kick he threw from his own 22.
“If I had to pick a singular moment of that game that I still remember with a smile, it has to be a 50/22 that I kicked from our 22. It helped us to keep the game under our control.”
Despite Cardiff Met not reaching the final, Meijer was awarded the ‘Freshman Sports Award of the Year’, proof of his impact since joining the Welsh university.
However, for a player of Meijer’s pedigree, was going to the UK and joining a BUCS Super Rugby side the right decision when France could’vebeen an option?
“It is a great competition that allows you to study, learn and develop yourself to a higher level,” recognises the young Dutch international.
“We have a lot of exposure, as we play in the Cardiff Arms Park from time to time, and seven or eight thousand students support us.
“Like, a few months ago, we played at Kingsholm [v Hartpury]. BUCS Super Rugby allows you to play in these mythical grounds and opens a lot of doors.”
In his own words, young players from all over the world should be looking to the competition as a path forward, even if studying is involved.
“It is a professional set-up, and more young players should try it out as it is a great chance to develop and grow yourself.
“If you aren’t playing for a pro club, BUCS Super Rugby allows you to try and become pro while taking a degree.
“While the Uni teams aren’t owned by a club, they are linked to them in some ways. Uni players can be picked by Premiership/Championship sides, which shows why the BUCS Super Rugby works in opening a new pathway for young players.”
As for 2025, Meijer admits the season didn’t start well but feels the team has turned a corner after the New Year, with the Archers lying in sixth spot.
“We had a good look at ourselves and made some changes. We want to play well again to qualify for the quarter-finals. I believe we are on track to reach our goals.”
His time at Cardiff Met has helped him hone his skills and develop as a senior player, paving the way for him to become a core member of the Netherlands side between 2023 and 2025.
Although some time has passed, he still remembers his debut for the ‘Oranje’.
“I earned my first cap against our all-time rivals, Belgium, and came on for someone who had been my youth coach, Te Campbell," says Meijer.
"I didn't touch the ball once! It was just running around and doing shuttles, as they kept kicking, and I had to run back, and then we kicked the ball."
"Lyn Jones, after the game, turned to me and said, ‘Great game, no errors!'"
With all that said and done, are we going to Meijer stay in the UK and join the English club competitions?
“For now, I am just focused on playing my best rugby, helping Cardiff Met have a great season, and then we will see where I am going to go.
“It isn’t easy to stay with a Prem or Champ side, due to the EQP status, but let’s see how it goes.”
Cardiff Met entertain fourth-placed Durham this Wednesday while elsewhere, league leaders Loughborough (1st) kick off this week's action away at Leeds Beckett (7th).
Second-placed Bath - who are level on points with the African Violet - go to Exeter University (3rd) live on YouTube while fifth-placed Nottingham travel Cardiff (9th) and Hartpury (6th) host bottom side Swansea.
