Honiton Community College student Charlie Wright has just returned to East Devon having played for the England Under-16 rugby team who dealt Wales a heavy 34-0 defeat.
Wright began his rugby career at the tender age of seven and was always playing ‘a year up’ through the age groups.
His initial coaches were Jon Obrien and Tom Churchward at Honiton and he played for the team until numbers fell away and the team broke up.
That saw Wright switch allegiance to Sidmouth RFC who he joined to play in the Under-13 age group.
Two years running young Wright won the team’s Player of the Year award and he was also a big part of the team that won the Devon Cup. In the final against Topsham it was Wright who scored the all important last minute winning try!
He first played for Devon in the Under-15s and he captained the county Under-16s, then as a 15-year-old and playing a year up!
The natural progression was to Sandy Park where he joined the Exeter Chiefs Academy, receiving twice weekly coaching.
Last December he had trials for the South West England squad which saw him successful and he was ultimately selected for the full national side.
His England debut came as he wore the number seven shirt in the match with Wales and was in the action from first whistle to last.
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