Two Sidmouth youth players have been selected in the 22-player squad from Devon and Cornwall to represent Exeter Chiefs at the Harrow Academies Festival.

Tom Counsell and Sam Cavin who both joined the club on the same day, shortly before their fifth birthdays have been training with the Exeter Chiefs Under-15 squad for the past few months.

The boys had what can only be descried the experience of a lifetime as travelled to London in the Exeter Chiefs 1st team coach and stayed in a hotel for the Festival which was played last Sunday at Harrow School.

Both boys were picked for the Chiefs starting line-up. The team played six 15-minute matches with a 15 minute break between games.

They played against Academies from Saracens (drew 0-0), London Irish (won 5-0), Gloucester (won 15-0), Wasps (lost 10-5), Bath (lost 5-0) and Bristol (won 25-10).

Tom Counsell had the honour of being named vice captain and he was ultimately voted Back of the Day for The Chiefs.

Both boys relished the opportunity of playing rugby at such a high level and did Sidmouth proud.

The club have no fewer than six of their Under-15 squad in the Devon County side; Tom Counsell, Sam Cavin, Aaron Bagwell, David Chan, all from the current Under-15 squad and they were joined in the County set-up by Sidmouth Under-14 players Charlie Wright and George Syrad.