Chiefs duo help Cully youngsters

By Mark Stevens

It's not every day two Premiership Rugby players pop along to help with training, but that's exactly what happened for youngsters at Cullompton Rugby Club recently.

Exeter Chiefs duo Don Armand and Kai Horstmann were the star attractions at Stafford Park as they helped to pass on a few tips of the trade to Cully's Under-16s side.

The event, which was organised by Watson Fuels who sponsors the Chiefs duo, saw 18 players brave near freezing temperatures to attend the 90-minute session and receive coaching points on all aspects of the game, including rucking, mauling and line-outs.

“The lads are all Exeter Chiefs fans and so were really excited to have Kai and Don there,” commented Ian Wood, Cullompton RFC Under 16s coach. “It’s great for our players to be able to interact with the pros and their presence certainly helped to raise the intensity of the session.”

After training, Hortsmann and Armand joined the players in the clubhouse for a short Q&A, answering questions on life as professional rugby players, and giving insight into the Chiefs’ season thus far.

“It’s great to see so many young players out here enjoying their rugby, particularly on such a cold night,” said Hortmann. “We enjoyed the session, and are glad that were able to help Ian and the boys out.”

“There’s certainly some promising local rugby talent in the area,” added Armand, “And I hope we were able to offer one or two useful pointers.”

Andrew Watson, Director at Watson Fuels commented: “Watson Fuels is proud of our respective partnerships with the Exeter Chiefs and with Cullompton RFC, and we were pleased to be able to bring the clubs together to organise the session.

"We extend our thanks to Kai and Don for braving the elements to offer their experience to the young players, and also to the groundsman at Cullompton RFC for battling against the adverse weather to somehow produce a pitch upon which to train!”