Former Exeter College Chiefs Academy duo Merryn Doidge and Richard Capstick completed a Player of the Match clean sweep for Exeter Chiefs last weekend, as both impressed in victories for their respective sides.  

The weekend kicked off for Chiefs with their Women’s side edging out Harlequins 7-6 at Sandy Park. Former Exeter College Rugby Academy student Merryn Doidge was crowned Player of the Match with an impressive display at full back in a bruising match in the Allianz Premier 15s clash.  

“They’re proof to our current Rugby Academy students of how far you can go if you apply yourself and really want to take that next step in to professional sport.”

Chris Wall, Sports Academy Manager

That performance was backed up in the Men’s side by another Exeter College alumnus in Richard Capstick (pictured above while he was a student with Exeter College), who claimed Player of the Match after Chiefs’ 15-9 victory over the Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park. Capstick starred in a resolute Chiefs defence in a performance that lifted the Chiefs to second in the Gallagher Premiership table with eight games played.  

The pair shared a similar path through to the professional rugby pitch, albeit at slightly different times. Merryn joined Exeter College and the Exeter Chiefs Women’s Rugby Academy while studying for her BTEC in Sport and Exercise Science. The combination of training in a professional environment while learning in the classroom appears to have paid off as her fledgling rugby career starts to take shape with the newly-formed Women’s Exeter Chiefs side following international call ups to represent England’s youth sides.  

Richard also studied Sport and Exercise Science with Exeter College, and has now amassed almost 20 first team appearances for the Sandy Park side, and boasts international caps for England’s U16, U18 and U20 sides.  

Exeter College Sports Academy Manager Chris Wall said, “We’re immensely proud of the achievements of Merryn and Richard. 

“They’re proof to our current Rugby Academy students of how far you can go if you apply yourself and really want to take that next step in to professional sport. We’re all delighted for any former student as soon as they take their first steps on to the professional pitch and we’ve already got a legacy of success of students going directly in to playing sport, as well as in other supporting roles. 

“Thanks for our great partnership with Exeter Chiefs, we’re able to offer first class facilities and training to our students, while also giving them the exceptional education you get with Exeter College.” 

Find out more about the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy with Exeter College.

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