Exeter vs Loughborough. A rivalry that is engrained into the competitive consciousness of both of these stalwarts of BUCS Super Rugby. Classic encounters are promised every single time they clash and on Wednesday 19th April another spectacle will be enjoyed as they face off to become BUCS National champions for 2023.

In the league this season, it was Loughborough who came out on top and Exeter finished second. Despite this both sides earnt a victory against the other, each at their home grounds, however a little added edge this year as both sides fell into the same National League 2 West league and it was Exeter who got both victories there.

In round two of BSR this year Exeter travelled up to Loughborough and in a tight contest, which turned out to be a physical encounter with Exeter losing Max Bliss and Archie Owlett to injury, Loughborough were victorious which meant Exeter had lost their opening two games of the season. Later on in the year however, when Loughborough travelled to Devon just before Christmas, it was Exeter who put them to the sword scoring over forty points. As a result, this final provides an opportunity for both sides to settle the score for this season.

Head to Heads:

When looking at these two sides, you can’t look much further than the head-to-head between the two fly-halves: Josh Barton and Charlie Titcombe. Both played for the England Rugby University side that faced France last summer and have had influential presences for both of their sides this year.

Barton who past the 300-point mark in BUCS Super Rugby in the semi-final against Cardiff Met has been a core part of Exeter’s attacking fluidity and brilliance scoring tries and points in abundance including crucial scores in both knockout games.

Titcombe has also been heavily influential in his side's success and league victory this season; in particular, his solo wonder try against Cardiff Met in the last game of the season was crucial to that win and securing the title.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, both fly-halves will look to control the game and kick their points which could be crucial to earning a championship title.

Whilst not as flashy as the fly-half’s it will be the packs who do the hard work in the final to provide the platforms for both sides and that comes from no place better than the engine room of the second row. Head to head will be Exeter’s powerhouse mountain Milo Hallam and Loughborough’s Alex Wardell.

Hallam had a concussion before the start of the season and missed the first game against Loughborough in the year. However, he has been an experienced and dominant presence in the side ever since. Having been on the bench in the final against Durham last year, he will be an important figure for EURFC heading into Wednesday.

As for Wardell, he has played for Saracens in the Premiership Rugby Cup as well as England Under 20’s. At six foot six, he’s a towering figure in the Loughborough pack, especially at lineout time and will be one to watch in the final.

Things are set up beautifully heading into this final as the green and white hoops and African violet clash for one more time this season on Wednesday; there is no more fitting end to a brilliant season of BUCS Super Rugby than this titanic encounter.