Standards are rising - Cowling

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs academy manager Robin Cowling believes the growing emergence of a number of homegrown stars in Rob Baxter's squad means aspiring players from across the region must now hit even higher standards if they are to make a name for themselves within the game.

In recent seasons Baxter has demonstrated that he's not afraid to give youth it's chance with the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade all forcing their way into the first team ranks from the club's highly successful academy set-up.

Behind them the likes of Max Bodilly, Sam Skinner, Tom Hendrickson, Stuart Townsend, Jack Innard, Ed Holmes and Jack Stanley have also been afforded opportunities to showcase their talents on the big stage.

Now, as the Devon club prepare to welcome in three more academy young guns - Josh Caulfield (pictured left), Harrison Cully and Jack Maunder - ahead of the 2015/16 season, Cowling has issued a timely warning that no one can afford to rest on their laurels.

Caulfield, Cully and Maunder have recently all penned academy deals with the club, while Holmes and Innard have both signed extensions.

And as the man who has overseen the club's academy stock since it's inception, former England international Cowling says hard work will be a key ingredient in terms of whether a player ultimately reaches the top end of the game.

He said: “We feel all of them can come through, but it’s the intermediate stage at the moment. The standard of the club is going up all the time, so it’s getting harder and harder for academy lads to enter.

“We wouldn’t have included them in the senior academy group if we didn’t think they could come through though.

“All the lads that we’re working with now at the colleges and in the lower ends of the academy have it spelt out to them that the bar has risen. Just because they’re a senior academy player, it doesn’t give them a ticket to the first team. It’s the bottom rung of the ladder that goes up to the first team. It’s a start, not a finish point.”

It's certainly a strong enough message from Cowling, but he believes the emergence in recent times of players such as Cowan-Dickie, Ewers, Hill, Nowell and Slade show what can be achieved if all the attributes are put into place by the player and the club itself.

“Jack [Innard] and Ed [Holmes] still have a fair bit to go, but the other lads like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have all stepped up," said Cowling. “Sometimes it can take a little bit of luck, like someone being injured, but they need to take the luck when it comes.”



Indeed, Cowling has hailed the 'tremendous' work being carried out at Bicton, Ivybridge and Truro Collleges, the three centres which continue to feed direct into the club's academy set-up, as well as the relationship with Keith Fleming at Exeter University.

In welcoming the latest trio to the Sandy Park ranks for next season, Cowling added: “Jack Maunder has been part of the club for a long time and he’s come on well. Josh Caulfield has played for England Under-18s and has had two years at Bicton College under the guidance of Rob Gibson.

“He’s an exciting lad and we think he’s got terrific potential, but obviously it’s a big step up from school rugby to being a Premiership player.

“Again, Harrison (pictured right) has been part of England Under-18s squad and he’s at Truro College. We see him as a lad with huge potential. However, it’s all very well playing for England Under-18s, but you need to convert that if you can and then get into the England Under-20s and then into the club’s senior squad. It’s a long route but they should be able to.

“They’ll be on dual-registration in between times as we don’t have an LV= Cup next year. We do have an A League though so they’ll feature in that.”