Cowling predicts bright future

Exeter Chiefs academy manager Robin Cowling insists his young guns need only look at his previous crop’s senior success for inspiration ahead of Under-18s Academy Finals Day.

The Chiefs will travel to Allianz Park as eight of Aviva Premiership’s talent-packed academies showcase their skills on Monday (5pm) – with rugby fans invited to attend free of charge.

And as far as Cowling (pictured above) and his academy team’s track record goes, the crowd will snatch their first glimpse of Aviva Premiership stars in the making.

Eight months on from winning the Junior World Championship with England, winger Jack Nowell is flying for the Chiefs on all fronts – and currently shining on the international stage in the seniors.

In fact, Nowell (pictured left), Henry Slade and Sam Hill – the three of them having scooped up all of England Under-20’s points in the final against Wales – have all made a name for themselves this season with increased first-team action.

Luke Cowan-Dickie was another finalist and is catching up with his peers after his first Aviva Premiership appearance last week against Northampton Saints.

The academy’s proud tradition is only set to continue as far as Cowling is concerned – and he is already planning on filling out positional gaps in the first-team squad.

“As a club, we see the academy as a really important part of what we try to do,” he said. “We had lots of players in the Junior World Cup final this year who have gone on to the seniors.

“It really is a target for our current academy players and with Premiership Rugby bringing in an Under-18 league, it’s another step up.

“The senior coaches can’t fill a whole squad with young players but it’s about developing a stream of players in varying positions.

“We make a production sheet of where we think the players are going to come from and there are definitely holes that need filling in the first team.

“There are not enough hookers coming through because up until 16 it’s a not a very specialised position and not seen as important.

“We’re also looking at No.8s, as well as 10s, and that’s all forming part of our production plan. Players like Jack Innard, who is a hooker, also stepped up to the A League earlier this year and his progression has been excellent.”

Chiefs’ academy is brimming with so much talent that no one has beaten them for two years – they unsurprisingly made light work of the Southern Conference to qualify for Finals Day.

They will play Northampton Saints in the day’s final game at 17:00 and Cowling is backing his players to rise to the occasion and put on a show.

“Though there will be no overall winner part of our development is learning how to win, just like we want them to do in the first team,” added Cowling. “We encourage them to play with no inhibitions and we are really pleased with the opportunity to play both in the league and on Finals Day, getting them into the right condition and mental frame of mind.

“We’re unbeaten in two years and it will be a smashing experience for the lads to go to Allianz Park and do themselves proud.”