There will be two current Exeter University Students in the Exeter Chiefs side to take on Gloucester this weekend, with Dafydd Jenkins and Ollie Leatherbarrow both named in the matchday 23.

Jenkins started his first Gallagher Premiership match last weekend against Wasps and looked like he had been playing in a Chiefs shirt for years, as he put in an assured performance in the second row. He could have played his part in winning the match for the Chiefs as well, had Tom Hendrickson not dropped the ball from Jenkins’ pass with the try line begging.

Despite coming up just short against Wasps, Rob Baxter was quick to praise the efforts of Jenkins.

“It feels tough, but you have to be hugely proud of some of the guys. Daf Jenkins stepping in and doing 80 minutes like he did was fantastic. Potentially, he wins us the game with his last pass to Tom Hendrickson, but it hasn’t quite come off for him. That said, you look overall and there has to be a lot of positives to take from that.”

For Leatherbarrow, having returned from injury against Hartpury in January, with a two-try Man of the Match performance, he translated that form into the Scotland U20s squad last week, with an abrasiveness performance against England, again scoring a brace.

He is named on the bench ahead of what could be his Exeter Chiefs debut on Saturday, with the opportunity to translate his stunning form into a Chiefs jersey.

Leatherbarrow and Jenkins are joined in the Chiefs side by club alumni Richard Capstick and Sam Maunder, with the four players named only serving to highlight to strength of the partnership between the university and Exeter Chiefs.

Reflecting on the selections, Director of Rugby Keith Fleming paid credit to the efforts of the players in making the most of the opportunities presented to them from playing university rugby.

“Dafydd obviously made his Premiership debut last week and didn’t look fazed at all by the game. For Ollie as well, he has been superb since he returned from injury. You only have to look at his recent performances for the university and for his country to know that he is a young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him.”

Fleming also praised the pathway from the university into the professional fold.

“With Richard and Sam starting as well for Exeter tomorrow, it shows that the university pathway here at Exeter is in rude health and only continuing to develop.”

All at EURFC wish Dafydd, Ollie, Richard and Sam the best of luck tomorrow. We’re sure they will do themselves proud.