Six Nations joy for young Chiefs

Departing England Under-20s Head Coach Rob Hunter paid tribute to his team after they were crowed Six Nations champions for an unprecedented third time in a row after an impressive 28-15 win away in Wales at Eirias Park.

Hunter, who is set to join the Exeter Chiefs coaching staff next month on a full-time basis, could not hide his delight as his young guns produced an impressive display in Colwyn Bay.

He said: “It’s a massive achievement and the guys deserve all the credit – they’re a hard working group and this trophy is their reward for the work that they have put in. Wales gave it a real go and full credit to them, and we never felt comfortable.”

However, helped by the Chiefs quartet of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade, England proved too strong for their hosts, who had come into the game unbeaten in the competition up until that point.

The tie was on a knife edge for large parts of the game and Wales fly-half Sam Davies was a constant threat with the boot, but two tries from flanker Harry Wells and one from winger Nowell gave England the win, as fly-half Slade added 13 points with the boot.

To cap an impressive night for the Chiefs, prop Cowan-Dickie was named the game’s man of the match for the second successive week, having picked up a similar award in England’s home win over Italy at Franklin’s Gardens.

Afterwards, England captain Jack Clifford added: “I’m so happy for all of the boys and all of the management, everyone works so hard and to end up with this trophy as captain is a dream come true. Massive credit to the Welsh though, at no point did we feel like the game was won until the final whistle blew.”

By Mark Stevens

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Photo courtesy of Exeter Rugby Club / Pinnacle Photo Agency