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Above: Flo Robinson (Credit Exeter Chiefs), Below: Merryn Doidge (Credit Mike Powell)
England Rugby selection for Exeter Scholars Merryn and Flo
Ahead of their first international game at Sandy Park, the Red Roses selection has been made by head coach Simon Middleton this week, featuring current Exeter students, Merryn Doidge and Flo Robinson.
Speaking about his selection, Middleton points out both backs who clearly have made an impact through the England training camps and playing for Chiefs. He states that both players “have done really well for us in last season’s camps and in the summer. Both are very much learning their trade and we’re watching their development closely.”
Currently ranked number 1 in the world, the England woman's squad are preparing to take on the current world champions, New Zealand in the latest Autumn International test series. Representing their country on familiar territory, both players have already made a name for themselves in the Exeter Chiefs squad alongside their studies at the university.
We caught up with Flo to hear about how she felt about this incredible achievement :
"I'm very excited to be involved in the series, being involved in camps so far has accelerated my improvement, so I hope to learn as much as I can over the next few weeks and use it to push me further.
The university have been good at supporting me through rugby and have been understanding when there's clashes between work and sport, which has helped me get as much out of training and the England set up as I can."
Merryn has also chatted to us ahead of the international test series:
"The Red Roses game at Sandy Park is particularly exciting being in Exeter. It will be a showcase of some of the best talent in the world and a fab day for all involved. I’m very excited to continue learning as my involvements to date have hugely benefitted my development and also my desire to achieve my long term goals.
Exeter University alongside the club- Chiefs, have provided me with a great support network to help me balance and manage my studies and rugby, and I am very grateful to them. This ensures that I can achieve these successes/ goals to continue my development and perform at my best both on and off the field, and at university."
It’s not just current students that have made the selection, former sports scholar Amber Reed (Bristol Bears) and past student Lagi Tuima (Harlequins) also made Middletons squad. Here at Exeter we pride ourselves on instilling excellence in sport through our high performance programmes. Both Flo and Merryn are part of the rugby programme which is led by current Exeter Chiefs player, Poppy Leitch. If you are interested in finding out more information on our scholarship programmes, please head to Rugby - Performance Sport (exeter.ac.uk).
Date: 12 October 2021