Keast on shortlist for RPA Award

By Mark Stevens
16/5/22

Exeter Chiefs prop Billy Keast has been named on a shortlist for the Vodafone Business Gain Line Award at the upcoming Rugby Players' Association Awards night in London.

Earlier this season, the 25-year-old became the worthy recipient of this season's first Vodafone Business Gain Line Award with his speciality coffee and Cornish clothing brand No. 1 Cubs.

Born and raised in Cornwall, the young forward was always destined to take up rugby, following in his father’s footsteps. Billy signed for Exeter Chiefs when he was studying at Truro College and has gone on to achieve international recognition with England at various age groups, making his Chiefs debut in 2016.

Keast set up his business No. 1 Cubs back in October 2018 after a year of planning and set-up. The name was inspired by his position for Exeter Chiefs, No.1, and the Chicago Cubs baseball team that was playing on the TV in the background while he was brainstorming with his co-founder Matt Butler.

Cubs started with the idea of creating a simple but strikingly designed van to travel to Cornwall and the rest of the South-West serving coffee and food at events and festivals. In the last year, the business has grown extensively to now include four permanent coffee shops, with another two shops in Cornwall and a third in Devon planned for 2022. Most recently, No.1 Cubs has taken up residence in the form of a Winter pop up in The Beach Hut at the famous Watergate Bay hotel.

His unique clothing range aims to promote the relaxing Cornish way of life including modern hoodies, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. In addition to the individual clothing range, the business sells teamwear and leisurewear to over 30 colleges and universities in the UK.

Keast’s RPA Development Manager, Craig Townsend, said: “Billy has dedicated the last three years to building a successful nationally renowned business and brand alongside a developing professional rugby career. He had a clear vision, put it into place, acted and made that vision a reality, not just in one business sector but three – coffee, clothing and property!”

Keast will be battling it out for the award on May 25 alongside Gloucester's Lewis Ludlow and the Bristol Bears duo Jake Heenan and Luke Morahan.