Chiefs U18s side to face Bath
By Mark Stevens
2/1/20
Exeter Chiefs Under-18s will be hoping to make the most of home advantage at Truro College when they tackle rivals Bath in the Premiership Rugby Under-18s League on Saturday (2pm).
The young Chiefs kicked off their new season with a 31-19 loss at Saracens just prior to Christmas. However, the club’s coaches saw plenty of positives, despite defeat, and are hoping that additional preparation time will help serve them in good stead ahead of this latest match-up.
Certainly, Academy coach Marek Churcher is relishing Saturday’s encounter, saying: “Saturday will be a great challenge for us against Bath. We have had a great week’s prep and the guys can’t wait to get out there at the weekend.
“Playing down at Truro on the brand new 4G surface will be brilliant for everyone as it will allow both teams to really go out and express themselves.
“Obviously, we’re still hurting a little after the defeat up at Saracens, but we’ve addressed a few of the areas that needed some work and looked to build on the positives that came from that game.
“We know from past experience that Bath will be well organised and full of confidence, but we’re at home and we’re confident ourselves that we can use that advantage in our favour and go out and put in a really strong performance.”
The Chiefs will stick largely with the same squad that took to the field at Allianz Park, but there is a first start for highly-rated forward Christ Tschiunza in the Exeter back-row.
The Welsh Under-18s star signed for the Chiefs back in June having been part of the Cardiff Blues Academy. He is currently still being educated back in the Principality at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, before he makes a more permanent move to Devon, where he will aim to combine furthering his rugby career with that of studying at the University of Exeter.
Scrum-half Tom Cairns again skippers the Chiefs, who also also include in their line-up Milo Hallam and Jake Bond, both of whom scored tries in the game at Saracens, as well as Frankie Nowell, the younger brother of current Chiefs, England and British Lions star, Jack Nowell.
CHIEFS UNDER-18s SIDE TO FACE BATH
- HARRY WILKINSON
- HARRY HOCKING
- BAILEY WILLIMAS
- SAM LEWORTHY
- MILO HALLAM
- CHRIST TSHIUNZA
- JOE ELSWORTH
- BEN GRUBB
- TOM CAIRNS (capt)
- IWAN JENKINS
- KIAN GENTRY
- CHARLIE McCAIG
- ARCHIE HILL
- CHARLIE LEVICK
- FRANKIE NOWELL
- OLI JEFFERY
- NATHAN KAREA
- EWAN STEPHENS
- JERMAINE ELLIS-BROOKES
- TOMMY WOODWARD
- JOSH PILKINGTON
- BILLY ORCHARD