Match Preview

Just a mere 161 days ago, Exeter needed a late miracle at the StoneX. Faced with a 3-point deficit, with 5 minutes of extra time remaining the play-off voodoo seemed to have returned. However, Tom Cairns dived over from short range, sparking ecstatic celebration from the EURFC bench and crowd watching in the grandstand. Ollie Leatherbarrow and Josh Barton lifted the trophy to seal Exeter’s 2 successive BUCS Super Rugby titles.

5 months on and a whole pre-season later and we are ready to go again at Topsham as we start the season in the same way as last. 3-time champions Hartpury University make the trip to Topsham on the opening Wednesday.

As ever with university rugby there’s been a high turnover of players, meaning many 2-time champions have left us. However, that also means there is an exciting new group of players chomping at the bit to get their shot at the highest level.

After an incredibly successful breakout season in 2022/23, Lucas Dorrell has now been named captain ahead of the new year. Despite his stellar performances, he is still focusing on the needs of his peers with it being “all about the success of the team”.

This is a team who have endured a long and hard 8-week pre-season program, in which they were tested to their physical limit. However, the “team has come together well” and is far stronger because of “a good preseason”.

Looking back to this time 12 months ago, we found ourselves in a very similar position, opening our BUCS campaign with Hartpury at home. On that occasion a 75th-minute try, and conversion allowed Hartpury to steal the victory after being 18 points down just after half time.

Having made his debut in that match Dorrell remembers the last-minute heartbreak but knows how to avoid it on this occasion.

“We just need to win the 50/50 battles, with the set-piece and loose ball situation being key in tough, windy conditions tomorrow”, “We also need to be winning what we call the no-talent battles”.

With wet and windy conditions expected tomorrow the boys will be focusing on their fundamentals and outworking their rivals.

TEAM NEWS

Two experienced props start in the opening round, with Jared Williams and Archie Owlett both looking to gain 3 BUCS titles for themselves. They flank for London Irish hooker Joe Vanjer, making his BUCS debut. Josh Cunningham continues from last year but is now joined by Oscar Beckerleg in the second row. In the back row, captain Dorrell starts and will be crucial throughout this season. Another for Irishman Jack Forsythe is at 6, with Harlequins and Wales U20’s Seb Driscoll at 8.

Orson James is at 9 with debutant Luca Mignot outside him. The fly-half has big boots to fill the wake of Josh Barton. Chester Ribbons and Charlie McCaig have already formed a formidable centre partnership in Nat 2 this season and bound to be more to come from them in BUCS rugby. The only other debutant in the back line is Kian Gentry, who after a season plagued by injury is ready to return alongside Kofi Barton-Byfield and Benjy Joseland.

The bench is stacked with experienced heads and debutants. Both Gulley brothers prepare to make their BUCS bows, along with scrum-half Will Smears and fly-half Jack Park. Then there is the more experienced heads of 2023 champions Chris Freeman, Milo Hallam, Tirion Bowen, and Dylan Power.

We’ve been waiting all summer to say this. BUCS SUPER RUGBY IS BACK!!!

Join us at Topsham tomorrow for a 2 p.m. kick-off, as well as live match updates over on our Twitter page (@ExeterUniRFC).