BUCS Super Rugby pathway proves its worth (again) after Bath success and exciting England Students squad
BUCS Super Rugby finalist and Loughborough's Tayo Adegbemile is another exciting talent in the university rugby sphere
©England Students / Fairlight Creative
Just over a week has passed since the University of Bath’s “dreams” came true.
Their BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship 41-14 victory over Loughborough University saw ‘The Brothers’ complete the league and cup double.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s been such a long time trying to get here,” Head of Rugby Aaron James told TRU post-match. “To do it with such a special group of staff and players…yeah, special.”
And while celebrations for James’s ‘special group of players' may have rolled into the early hours last week, reality has already intervened.
For some, there is no comedown. Just another step up.
Six Bath players were initially selected for England Students’ clash with France Universities this weekend at Newcastle Red Bulls’ Kingston Park.
Five will run out on Saturday: front-rowers Max Pearce (captain) and Alfie Griffin, flanker Iwan Coyle, fly-half Will Roue and winger Austin Emens.
The sixth, Issac Mears, has had a slightly different week, though.
Originally included by head coach Martin Webdale, the scrum-half has instead been pulled into Bath Rugby’s senior environment amid injury issues at nine.
With Bath preparing for a Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Bègles, and Ben Spencer passed fit to start with Tom Carr-Smith on the bench, Mears’ debut may be delayed.
But the direction of travel is unmistakable. Mears’ promotion is just another sign of the blossoming relationship between Bath and the university, something Head of Rugby Johann van Graan echoed to TRU.
“It’s a magnificent partnership, as it’s been throughout a number of years, and I’m just proud of everybody involved,” Van Graan said following the BUCS triumph.
“It’s brilliant for the University of Bath. What a season they’ve had, and it’s amazing that so many of our players and coaches are associated with the University.
“In terms of development, that’s why you’ve got a league like this. It’s to make players better and I believe that the players have got better this season.”
So with the new BUCS Super Rugby champions well-represented in the England Students squad, runners-up Loughborough University have supplied eight players, including the highly-rated back-row Tayo Adegbemile.
The Saracens forward, who featured heavily during their Prem Rugby Cup campaign, now arrives on the international stage with both pedigree and perspective.
"My first experience of playing [rugby] was when I joined St Albans in Year Seven,” Adegbemile, who has also represented England Under-18s, told England Universities.
“I was always like the biggest kid! I didn't really know what I was doing. Didn't really know the rules. I was just running around, running over people because I was bigger than them, but didn't really have a clue!
"When I signed at Sarries, it was like, 'Do I go full-time, or do I go to Uni? And looking back at it now, I don't regret my decision to go to Uni one bit, and a big part of that is BUCS.
“The opportunity to play week in, week out, and just get that game time, because I feel like at a young age, that's what you need to develop."
And there is a sense of unfinished business for Adegbemile - as well as for England Students themselves, who lost 42-31 in the south-west of France last year.
“Yeah, massively looking forward to it [the game]” Adegbemile said.
“The last time I played France as an England player was a one-off game after the South Africa tour with England Under-18s [in 2023/24], and they smoked us down in France, so I guess this is a bit of an opportunity to get some revenge on them!
“I can't wait to put the rose on again.”
