Despite the lack of BUCS Super Rugby and university rugby action this term, professional rugby has been continuing apace, with the Gallagher Premiership and European competitions both concluding in October and recommencing at the start of November.
As part of a series of features for EURFC, we have spoken exclusively to a number of our former players who represented the club in BUCS Super Rugby, before making the step into the professional arena.

First up, we speak to prop forward and Wasps rugby player Jack Owlett.

Owlett was an integral part of the university side, studying Business and Management from 2014-2017.

He was part of the Exeter University side that won BUCS Gold in 2016 against Loughborough at Twickenham, before continuing to play for the team in the inaugural BUCS Super Rugby season in 2016-17, where Exeter lost in a nail-biting final to Hartpury College.

That season, he scored 8 tries in 16 appearances, with his performances rewarded with a senior debut for Exeter Chiefs in November 2016, starting at home in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Cardiff Blues. Owlett continued to represent the Chiefs up until 2019, when he made the move to Wasps.

‘’ It was the first taste of a high-performance environment,’’ explains Owlett. ‘’It allowed me to develop an idea of what it would involve (to play elite rugby.) By playing in the top university league and then BUCS Super Rugby, it was great exposure and offered a very high standard of university rugby.’’

Owlett has already had a number of standout moments in his career, both at professional and university level.

‘’Starting in my first professional game for Chiefs whilst I was still at university, is up there. Winning the Anglo-Welsh cup and my Premiership debut were also very proud moments for both my family and I.’’

‘’(With EURFC,) winning BUCS gold is an easy winner but each and every Varsity was always a favourite!’’

Owlett credits the player pathway that exists between EURFC and Exeter Chiefs for the opportunities it has afforded him and many others to progress into professional rugby post-university.

‘’It’s massively important. For me, university was the stepping-stone to being offered a contract at Chiefs and without it, I don’t think I would be playing professional rugby at the minute. It was always something I wanted to do but it wasn’t always an option. The University of Exeter provided this for me.’’

Owlett was also keen to express his gratitude for Head of Rugby Keith Fleming, for his involvement in his development.

‘’ No doubt, Keith Fleming played his part in this and it is something that I will always be grateful for.’’

Having played for the Chiefs for several years, the 2019-20 season saw Owlett embark on a new challenge with Coventry based Wasps, for whom he has made 9 appearances thus far.

‘’I found Wasps particularly easy to settle into. There’s a great bunch of boys there!’’

Reflecting on his time with Chiefs, Owlett said:

‘’I learnt a huge amount at Chiefs and I’m grateful for the opportunities that they provided. For me, moving to Wasps was definitely the right decision. The challenge has been great and I feel that it has developed me as a player.’’

Looking ahead to the future, Owlett remains pragmatic in his goals and is already preparing himself for life outside rugby, studying towards a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Financial Trading.

‘’With regards to rugby, my goal is to continue enjoying it and appreciating it whilst it lasts. Everything seems to go so fast and being a professional sportsman, you are always encouraged to consider and plan for a career after rugby. This is something that I have invested a lot into and I am grateful for how rugby has helped to provide me with opportunities for this and has allowed me to meet so many different people from all walks of life.’’