Defender Premiership Rugby Cup 2022

By Mark Stevens
17/10/22

England World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson was among the many spectators cheering on over 700 youngsters at the recent Defender Premiership Rugby Cup held at Crediton Rugby Club.

The annual event once again attracted youngsters from across the region for the grassroots festival, which is aimed at Under-11s and Under-12s.

With 16 teams in each age group, featuring in six fixtures across the day, it was another festival to remember for the Exeter Chiefs Community team.

The Defender Premiership Rugby Cup, which was also attended by Exeter Chiefs Men’s and Women’s players Jacques Vermeulen, Halley Derera and Panashe Muzambe, allows Land Rover to connect with the rugby community and the people at the heart of it. The events are designed to provide aspiring young players with the chance to play competitive fixtures in a format to help aid their development, all within the spirit of rugby’s core values.

Since it started the competition has helped over 100,000 youngsters discover rugby through the annual events - with some realising their dreams of going on to play for the Premiership Rugby clubs.

At all festivals, a team from the U-11s and U-12s win an exclusive trip to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham Stadium on May 27, 2023.

This year, Withycombe U-11s won the opportunity to head to the final, where they will be joined by Penzance-Newlyn U-12s who their festival.