A former student at Ivybridge Community College, has just been signed by Exeter Chiefs.

Alfie Petch, has been signed as part of their professional squad and also has the honour of joining the England Under 18 Rugby squad later this year.

Alfie will have the chance to play alongside England’s most talented youngsters as he did in the training camps and in the Under 18 Academy games run by the England Rugby coaching team. However, this young man is no stranger to the world stage having played in the Under 17s 2017 England game in France.

This talented young man has already made enormous strides. Having played at Bude RFC for only three years he was signed up by Chiefs Academy aged just fourteen and has recenrtly signed a three year professional deal at Sandy Park starting in the 2018/19 season.

Alfie is very aware of the challenging schedule ahead, completing his Advanced Apprentiship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) at Exeter College with the Chiefs and combining his England training routines.

Alfie told us that he will relish the challenge even though combining both will be " a mental battle as well as a physical one."

Deputy principle, Gill Taylor, at Ivybridge Community College explained that the college "continues to be proud of its continuous and consistent support of its rugby stars of the fututre."