What a week it’s been for the club. Winning BUCS Super Rugby in one of the best games of rugby the StoneX has ever seen is sure to live long in the memory of fans and players alike. However, the rugby carousel continues to move forward to our next game as we face Barnstaple.

Our last game in Nat 2 didn’t go quite as hoped as we faced our final trip of the season to Leicester Lions. Having already been crowned champions the hosts put on an exhibition of rugby, running in 6 tries, 4 of which came in the second half. This made the first half very tight. With it being just a 2-point game after half an hour, and at half time the deficit was just 9 points, with all still to play for.

However, with so many injuries around the club already, and a massive game on Wednesday numbers were depleted coming into this one. To make the matter worse, 5 different players were forced off with knocks during this one, further resting EURFC’s depth. The match ended with Ellis Baldry, a hooker, on the wing, Josh Throne, a No. 8, at 13, 4 props spread across the pack and 3 hookers dotted over the place.

Despite the result, EURFC knows their place in Nat 2 is secured for next season, but they will continue to fight to the end in an attempt to finish as high up the standings as possible.

TOMORROW’S OPPONENTS

Having been founded in 1877 they won their first piece of silverware in 1897, the Devon League Cup, going on to become a force in the area for decades to come. This even included being crowned ‘Champions of the West’ and beating teams such as Llanelli and Saracens.

When the league system was put in place Barnstaple was placed in tier 6, quickly moving to tier 5 where they would remain until the mid-2000s. They would sink down to tier 7 at this point but would regain momentum, winning 4 Devon Cups in a row between 2008-2011 and getting back to the 5th tier.

Since 2015 they have become a bit of a yo-yo club, bouncing between English rugby’s 4th and 5th tiers. This is further proved this season having already been relegated with a game to go, with the 9-point gap to Bournville now unavailable. The season peaked for Barnstaple around the new year period, picking up 3 wins in 4 over Loughborough, Stourbridge and Newport but came crashing back to earth, failing to win any of their next 9, only breaking that last week vs Stourbridge.

Their most famous alumni would have to be Jerry Collins. The former All-Black famously appeared in one game for Barnstaple’s 2XV all the way back in 2007. He was on holiday following the 2007 RWC in Devon when he got chatting to the head coach who invited him down to play. A few weeks later Collins turned out the Barbarians Club, sporting the red socks of Barnstaple.

TEAM NEWS

Rich Hodges has made plenty of changes coming into this one after such a busy week After picking up a contract with Cornish Pirates, Jacob Morris is unavailable and so is replaced by Archie Alexander. Elliot Young keeps his starting spot, but Tom Gulley comes back into the side at 3. The man he replaced, Archie Rolls, is forced to move back into the second row alongside normal flanker Jack Stanley. On the back of his BUCS final appearance, Ronan Kelly starts at 6, with Ellis Baldry at 7 and Charlie Christie at 8.

In the back, Ben Potter is at 9, whilst the standout performer last week Jack Park continues at 10. In the centres, Zack Wimbush is paired with another new face, Sam Walker. The regular fly-half didn’t get off the bench vs Loughborough and is no doubt ready for action. The back three comprises Will Smears, Charlie Turner and Harvey Graham, with only Smears starting the last outing against the Lions.

Follow the game throughout over on EURFC’s Twitter page - @ExeterUniRFC.