Ones to watch: Best friends from Newton Ferrers

Alex Evans and Archie Guyver are best mates and are quite the double act. With another year left with Exeter Chiefs Academy and Exeter College, there is more to come from this pair as they navigate through the rest of their pathway careers.

Guyver moved from Exeter to Newton Ferrers into the house just vacated by the Evans family. With the Evans and Guyver parents already friends, the boys also became firm pals and both started playing rugby for Ivybridge RFC to try to burn off some youthful energy.

The winger said: “When you’re younger, you’ve got so much energy. It’s not really about the rugby; it’s more about having fun with your mates and running around. I was quite lively, just doing cartwheels around the pitch.”

Scrum-half Evans said: “He (Guyver) came along at U6s and that’s when the relationship blossomed!”

Their journey to train and play rugby is even longer now. Having commuted to Ivybridge for club rugby, they now head to Exeter College. That means getting up at 5:30 on early training days, although this journey has been slightly eased with Evans passing his driving test…not that he likes to talk about it!

“I’m really bad at waking up,” said Evans. “My parents have to shake me to wake me up.”

Both are studying for three A-levels each with their end of year AS-levels looming in the summer term. These exams need to be passed well to progress into the second year of A-levels.

“A lot of people say the early morning starts are what is hard about the college, but you get used to it,” continued Guyver. “You just go to bed earlier and get up earlier. The teachers are really helpful. I definitely think it is possible to do well in A-levels while still juggling rugby.”

Evans added: “There’s a lot of pressure as we have to do well in our rugby and well in our academics. Managing time is the thing for us. We get home quite late, and we’ve got to eat as well. When we get home a little earlier, it is about prioritising academics.”

Despite all the looming pressure, both followed their Ivybridge Community College coach and former Wales international Aaron ‘Jarv’ Jarvis to Exeter College.

They have flourished under the Exeter College and Exeter Chiefs Academy system culminating in the Prem Rugby Next Gen Finals at Kingsholm.

“It was my first time playing in a stadium and suddenly one of your mates scores a try, like Al, and you look up at the big screen and his face is on there,” said Guyver.

“Finals day for me was quite a big thing,” commented Evans, who has since worn a Chiefs shirt against the Royal Navy. “I knew I had to play quite well. Obviously, as first years playing 18s, there was quite a lot of pressure.”

Both players though have seen an improvement in their game and give full credit to their coaches.

Guyver said: “We’ve got great coaches. It’s a really good environment. When you’re playing rugby and training, it’s serious and switched on. But when we’re coming down from training, you can have a good chat with them and if you have got anything you’re struggling with, you can chat to them about it. Because we have so many coaches with so much experience and know what they are on about, I feel I have learned so much this year.”

This development has resulted in Guyver winning his first cap for England U18s, followed up with a Six Nations tournament in Vichy, France. Evans has also been called up to England U18s training sessions and is hopefully of joining an U17s tour to South Africa.

Before then though, both players will represent England at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2026 in Japan. Exeter College have sent a team to represent England for several years. The tournament is held at the Global Arena sports complex in Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu and brings together leading high school teams from Japan and around the world. Sixteen boys’ teams (half from Japan and half from overseas) will compete across five days.

Aside from the stash, Evans is looking forward to playing against world-class teams: “Just excited to play some new teams.”

They have also being learning about Japanese etiquette to ensure they remain respectful to their hosts, although they admit leaving food on their plates may be tough for them and their teammates!

Watch the full – slightly humorous – interview below to learn more about their rugby dreams for the college, Academy, club and country, who’s the loudest on the pitch, rugby chat…and make sure you stay tuned for the ending.