West Buckland School’s U14 and U15 teams both won their finals in the North Devon Schools Rugby Cup, marking the first time since the competition began in its current format, that both teams have been crowned champions in the same year.
The victories crowned the school’s most successful rugby season for many years. Both finals, which were rescheduled to January due to bad weather, featured West Buckland and Great Torrington School, with the former coming out on top.
Both wins came on the back of a very successful season for the West Buckland First XV, showing strength in depth across the school teams. The season many notable wins including a first win against Plymouth College since 1985. Following that, three of the team, Tom Chapman, Tora Tuisasake and Josh Nalavea, were selected to play for Devon U18s a year early, as they are all currently in Year 12. Josh Nalavea has also been selected to join the prestigious Exeter Chiefs U17 Academy. During the Christmas break, Angus Bardner and Freddie Maskell were also selected to play for South West England Lambs U18s.
Success has not been limited to students themselves, with, rugby coach Alex Priest joining the Devon U15 coaching staff. This adds to a very strong coaching team which includes ex-Welsh International Matthew Robinson.