Sebastian Negri has already added his name to an illustrious list as Hartpury College captain, but the No.8 is determined to make it a double celebration in the inaugural BUCS Super Rugby campaign.

Having previously been split into north and south leagues, this season sees the top eight rugby-playing universities combined into one competition, the new BUCS Super Rugby.

Hartpury College kick things off with a trip to Durham University on October 5 and will be hoping to make it all the way to the showpiece at Twickenham on March 26.

And leading them into battle will be No.8 Negri, who joins the likes of England wing Jonny May is being named Hartpury College captain.

But Negri is adamant he won’t rest on his laurels now, determined to lead his side to glory in the first-ever BUCS Super Rugby campaign.

“First of all it’s an honour and a privilege to captain Hartpury,” the 22-year-old said. “Look at the names to have come through, Matt Gilbert, Jonny May, the history behind the teams, it’s up to us now to take Hartpury to new heights.

“The last few seasons have been a little bit disappointing for us, getting to the semi-finals, but hopefully we can push on and go all the way.

“So it’s a big effort needed from the boys this year. But I honestly believe we can do it, we’ve got a great team, great staff behind us and a great squad.

“So hopefully we can push on this year and it means the world to me that I am leading them out.

I will give the best of my ability and it’s a privilege and an honour to be captaining them.

“I think every game is going to be harder this year, in BUCS Super Rugby. One league from the best four in the south and best four in the north.

“Loughborough is always going to be a tough test. We played them last year in the semis and we lost, so hopefully we can get one back on them.

“And in the south your Exeters, your Baths, all the teams will be a big challenge. We just need to step it up, focus every week.

“It’s a new challenge and we need to do our homework on each team, because each team will pose their own challenges.”

Hartpury College backs coach Sean Lynn admits that Negri will be one to keep an eye on during the inaugural BUCS Super Rugby campaign.

However, Lynn insists he isn’t the only one as Hartpury College look to book themselves a spot at Twickenham come March’s showpiece.

“We’re very excited, especially because the whole package of the student experience, playing at the top level, is given a great platform with this new league,” Lynn said.

“I think all teams are going to be very competitive, especially playing in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, it’s tough rugby.

“But with our players we have the likes of Sebastian Negri, who has had a very good summer, just played with Italy. And we have James Forrester who is really going well with our Saturday team.

So those two are ones we’ll really be looking for.

“I’m very proud to be a part of BUCS Super Rugby. We want to be up there with the best. We’re looking now to build on two semi-finals in the last two years.

“Two semi-final knockouts and we want to be at Twickenham again, to see if we can take the trophy back.”

BUCS Super Rugby is a new national league, bringing together the eight best men’s university rugby teams in the country. The league is run by British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and powered by Rugby Vertical. For more info visit www.bucs.org.uk/superrugby