Chiefs U-18s side to face Irish

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs Academy coach Rob Gibson says he is “excited” at the squad the club have put together ahead of the new Premiership Under-18s League, which starts this weekend.

The Devon side will kick-off their 2015/16 campaign at home to London Irish at Topsham RFC on Saturday (1pm).

Included in the home ranks are highly-rated centre Harry Strong, who has featured for the Chiefs first team in pre-season, alongside the likes of prop Marcus Street, lock Hugo Culverhouse, flanker Charlie Wright and half-backs Joe Snow and Harvey Skinner.

Speaking ahead of the game, which will be free admission for all spectators, Gibson said: “We’re really looking forward to the start of the season. This year, I believe, we have an exciting and quality group of players who can really challenge.

“Obviously we’ve seen over the years how guys from the Academy system have made it through to the senior ranks of the Chiefs set-up and we’re hopeful players within this group can ultimately follow suit.

“London Irish first up will be a very good test for us, but training has gone well in the lead up to the game and we’re hopeful we can start the season with a really positive result.”

CHIEFS U-18s SIDE TO FACE LONDON IRISH

1       James Kenny
2       Matt Symons
3       Marcus Street
4       Dan Swain
5       Hugo Culverhouse
6       Sam Daly
7       Charlie Wright
8       Dan Head
9       Joe Snow
10      Harvey Skinner
11      A J Cant
12      Declan Mathews
13      Harry Strong
14      Matt Morrish
15      Toby Williams

Replacements

16      Louis Powell
17      Jed Kerkin
18      Adam Wright
19      Charlie Fetney
20      Aaron Thompson
21      Matt Marsh
22      Sam Brown
23      Ryan Lee