DURHAM UNIVERSITY return to Twickenham for a third successive time tomorrow as they face Cardiff Met in the Men's Rugby Union Cup Final of British University and College Sports (BUCS).

The Palatinate outfit head into the game with an impressive record behind them, having lost just one university fixture in three years and securing another victorious unbeaten league campaign.

Since the arrival of Alex Keay as director of rugby in 2010, the club's fortunes have been drastically improved with success coming for all the club's teams. Their second and fourth teams won their respective leagues with the third team coming second in their league. The meteoric rise of the club to top ranked status has been led by Keay's inspiring work around the club, although he insists there is no hidden formula to this success.

"There's no secret to it, just simple hard work and a talented group of players have allowed the club to achieve all it has," the former Saracen explained. "Four players of the current 1st team have gone through their careers unbeaten in the league which is absolutely remarkable."

Having eased to the league title with an average of over 38 points scored per game, the Palatinates' cup run was a much tighter affair - they survived a scare against Bath in the quarter-finals, running out eventual winners 27-26.

However, their first half performance against Exeter was the best rugby many had seen from this team all season, and sent out a message ahead of the final at Twickenham.

Reflecting on his team's chances ahead of the final, Keay said: "The Bath game was really tough and Exeter were a very good side, both provided exactly the sort of challenge we needed ahead of the final. If we play as we know we can then we have an excellent chance of winning."

Durham head into the game looking to prove that last year's dismantling by a very street-wise Hartpury team was only a blip. A man central to the team's success is hooker and former England Student, Fred Stonell, who has played three full seasons for the team and lost just one game.

Stonell said: "We have had a great season so far and just want to keep this going. A lot of the current team experienced the defeat last year and it was very hard to take. But this year we know what to expect and we just want to show everyone what we can do."

Stonell's fine university career will come to an end on Sunday - along with Palatinate stalwarts Beaumont, Pattinson, Bayford and Finnie - and Durham's second most capped player is looking to bow out in style.

"The last three years have been unforgettable and Sunday will be the culmination of all the hard work that has been put in," said Stonell. "We all want to go out on a high and it's Bilbo's (Beaumont) 21st, so we are hoping to give him a hell of a day - and night!"

The game kicks off at 3pm tomorrow with tickets available at the stadium for £5.