Chiefs U18s side to face Saracens

By Mark Stevens
12/11/19

Exeter Chiefs Under-18s kick-off their new season tomorrow night with a testing trip away to Saracens at Allianz Park (7pm).

The Devonians will head to the nation’s capital with a young and energetic squad, all of whom will be looking to impress after a solid build-up to the new campaign.

Scrum-half Tom Cairns leads the young Chiefs into action, but there will plenty of other talent on show around him, including the likes of forwards Harry Wilkinson and Ben Grubb, as well as in the back division centre Archie Hill, who alongside Cairns has had previous involvement with the Exeter Braves.

Looking ahead to the fixture, Academy coach Ruairi Cushion said: “As a group I think we’re all really excited ahead of this first fixture on Friday night. We’ve been able to assemble a fantastic squad, which is not only young and full of enthusiasm, but it has great mix of quality rugby players amongst it.

“We’ve prepared well going into the game and I think now we’re all excited about the challenge of playing on Friday night. There is a real positive blend of Under-17 and Under-18 players, all of whom have the potential to play some really exciting rugby.

“Working with them ahead of the game, it’s clear they’ve developed a close bond amongst one another and that given the coaching they’ve had, they now have a clear vision of how we want them to play and how they can show their strengths as a team.”

Cushion warned, however, that Sarries - particularly on their own turf - will be no pushovers and that the Chiefs would need to be on the top of their game if they are to head home with the victory they crave.

“Like ourselves, Saracens will be wanting to get their season off to a winning start,” said Cushion. “They are a team who regularly produce Premiership level players, so it should be a decent test for our guys first up.”

CHIEFS U-18 SIDE TO FACE SARACENS

15 Frankie Nowell
14 Kian Gentry
13 Archie Hill
12 Ben Hammersley
11 Charlie Levick
10 Iwan Jenkins
9 Tom Cairns (capt)
1 Harry Wilkinson
2 Harry Hocking
3 Bailey Williams
4 Sam Leworthy
5 Milo Hallam
6 Joe Elsworth
7 Jake Bond
8 Ben Grubb

16 Oli Jeffrey
17 Ewan Stephens
18 Declan Prowse
19 Jermaine Ellis-Brookes
20 Tommy Woodward
21 Josh Pilkington
22 Charlie McCaig
23 Jack Carden