Building for the future

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe OBE was on hand to carry out the official opening of the new Devon Development Player Programme cabin on offer here at Sandy Park.

Jointly funded by the Devon DPP and Exeter Chiefs, the new facility will benefit players, coaches and parents alike as the club look to unearth the latest generation of young talent.

The cabin will be used not only as a classroom for players, but also as an area for coaches to provide feedback and coaching, as well as a refreshment facility.

The progress of the Under-13 to Under-16 Developing Player Programme (formally the School of Rugby) has endeavoured to mirror the success and steady progression over the last 10 years of the Exeter Chiefs.

In recent times, Henry Slade, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill, Sam Simmonds and Stuart Townsend are just some of the young players to have come through the system and into the first team ranks.

Chairman of the DPP, Rob Taverner, said: "Over the years we has quietly gone about our business and we are really proud to have helped developed so many talented players. This season the training programme has moved on massively having recruited Ruairi Cushion as head coach, Marc Dibble as manager and Zoe Willmott as secretary.

"The cabin enhances what we can offer the programme even further as we strive to discover the next Henry Slade of the future."