Exeter College is delighted to announce it has been successful in becoming an England Rugby Partner College. The College is one of only eight colleges that have received partner status, and will act as a flagship college for the South West, representing the region nationally.  

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College, said; 

“We are thrilled to have been announced as an England Rugby Partner College. Our team work incredibly hard to provide training, management, and opportunities for our young rugby players and this is the next step in making sure our provision is exceptional. 

“We have a fantastic partnership with the Exeter Chiefs, with our women and men’s rugby academies ensuring our young people are trained in a safe, inclusive environment and are given incredible opportunities. This was the natural next step to ensure we are delivering an outstanding rugby provision to young people in the South West.” 

This partner status means that the College will need to adhere to several operating standards which will benefit the programme. This includes utilising the RFU’s coaches, match official training programme, advocating best practise and providing a safe and enjoyable environment for rugby. The partnership will be player-centred, developing young people through the college journey, whilst using the vehicle of rugby to shape positive on and off field behaviours. It is an inclusive provision, providing rugby for all skills, motivations, and genders. 

Chris Wall, Sports Academy Manager at Exeter College, said;  

“This partner status is great recognition of all the hard work we are doing around our rugby programme at Exeter College. We are looking forward to collaborating with the RFU to introduce new players to the game of rugby and to support talented players on their chosen pathway.  

“This is a reflection of all the hard work of our staff over a number of years in providing such a quality product. Our active role within ECRFU (England College RFU), has allowed us to play a pivotal role in shaping the game for our learners and all students across the FE sector. We hope this ‘Partner College status’ will further underpin our provision and enhance identified areas for improvement, continuing to grow our rugby offer for our student population. 

“We are incredibly proud of our provision and believe our values align with those of the RFU to produce well-rounded learners who are confident, resilient, and aspirational while teaching respect, teamwork and discipline, plus enjoying the game too!” 

To find out more visit Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy.