Local Inclusive Rugby Teams to Attend Chiefs v Bath Fixture

Exeter Chiefs will be joined by two inclusive rugby teams - the Plymouth Dolphins and West Country Wasps - to mark Gallagher Premiership Pride Round this weekend.

LGBTQ+ Pride Round is part of Premiership Rugby's unwavering commitment to eliminate discrimination in rugby to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.

The teams joining Chiefs at Sandy Park this Saturday have clear missions to celebrate inclusivity in the sport while endeavouring to make rugby accessible to everyone.

Plymouth Dolphins

Founded in 2021, Plymouth Dolphins RFC is the Ocean City’s first inclusive rugby team, with a mission to increase inclusivity and accessibility to the sport by creating a different type of club environment. The club welcomes a wide range of players to whom traditional clubs do not appeal or feel intimidating, ‘The Pod’ as it has come to be known welcomes everyone and anyone regardless of sexuality, gender identity, or experience to join a social sporting community and give contact and touch rugby a try!

The team has a diverse mix of experience levels with the coaching team and players being made up of veteran players, complete newcomers and those returning to the sport after a gap in playing. This mix, the coaches’ dedication to developing players together and the Pod’s open, inclusive environment has been at the heart of the Dolphins’ on-pitch success. Their Development team have won the IGR Southern Merit and National Merit champions two seasons in a row, and their first team finished second in our very first season in the IGR SW league. Dolphins also represented internationally at the IGR Bingham Cup in Rome 2024, where they finished second in a tier against teams from across the globe.

West Country Wasps

Founded in 2018, the club was the first and long-standing International Gay Rugby club in Devon and Cornwall. With over 30 members, the club's primary goal is to offer inclusive training sessions and exciting rugby matches to people of all backgrounds and lifestyles, regardless of skill level.

Based at Teignmouth RFC, the teams first XV won the IGR UK Southern Division 2 league title in May 2022 as well as the IGR UK National Division 2 final.

Led by a 10-person committee, the club hopes to foster the creation of lifelong friendships through the game and core principles of rugby.