Exeter Students in England Students squad

Of the 23-man squad, current Exeter University students Duncan Hales, Rob Coote and Freddie Gabbitass have been selected for the trip to Lisbon on 21 January to play the Portugal national team. 

The players successful selection comes after more than 50 students from 20 universities across England and Wales trialled for the England Students squad, with a second set of rigorous trials where the new England Students coaches selected their squad of 23.

Freddie, who is studying PGCE Physical Education Secondary commented:“Being selected for England Students this year has topped off what has been a great start to my Exeter University Rugby career. I am looking forward to the international against Portugal and it'll be great to be playing alongside a couple of my Exeter team mates” . 

Rob is in his third year of BEng Engineering and Management and expressed: "I'm delighted to have been selected again to play against Portugal, getting the chance to go out there and test yourself against a national team is a great challenge and one that I relish"

As one of the University’s Focus Sports, our Rugby programme receives specialist support from the High Performance Unit and has close links with Exeter Chiefs. Exeter Men's Rugby Union first team currently sit in first position in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings out of 154 institutions.

Director of Rugby at the University Keith Fleming commented “The students have worked extremely hard for a long time and have developed into very good players. Their efforts have paid off with their selection”.