After a 2-week break, Nation League 2 West rugby returns, and with a familiar foe our opposition, it’s like it never stopped.
We face Loughborough Students this week, in another chapter of an already fabled rivalry for what is already our second meeting this year.
It will be an uphill battle for the boys, who come into this one having lost their 2 games in Nat 2, including to currently unbeaten Luctonians. However, Exeter University will be looking to recapture their early season form, which saw them win their opening 6 games.
Having already beaten Loughborough this season, there is never a better time or place to do it, as the game will be hosted at Millfield School.
Tomorrow’s Opponents
We already know plenty about tomorrow’s opposition. 2 heavyweights of BUCS Super Rugby go head-to-head this time on Saturday in National League Rugby. The rivalry has never been immortalised further than in April at the StoneX. A 13-try thriller that saw the African Violet score to send it to extra time in the final minute. They briefly took the lead, before a Tom Cairns try sealed the title for Exeter. Since then, the 2 sides have met once with Exeter winning comfortably winning 57-26.
Despite being invited to play in the initial RFU leagues, they turned it down and instead joined at the bottom of the league system in 1996. They struggled during the early stages due to the introduction of professionalism, eventually making it to National League 2 in 2008. In achieving this they became the first student side to take part in the national leagues, matched only by EURFC in recent years.
Team News
With 2 weeks off, Elliot has made plenty of changes to the starting XV that lost to Bournville. George Arnold comes in at loosehead and is joined by Young and Alexander in the front row. Hallam and Beckerleg remain in the 2nd row, as do Kelly and Triggs in the back. The only other alteration in the pack sees Josh Cunningham replace Tirion Bowen.
Will Smears is joined by the fit-again Ben Coen in the halfbacks, looking to re-ignite their impressive partnership from the start of the season. After making his BUCS debut midweek Pugh is joined by debutant Ethan Dando in the centres. With this Ferguson moves to wing to join Adedeji and Ellerby in the back 3.