BUDE’s Alfie Petch will join up with the England under 18 rugby squad later this year as well as recently signing a professional contract with Exeter Chiefs.

Petch, a student with the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy, took part in training camps and seven under 18 academy games, all ran by England Rugby’s coaching team.

The squad will consist of the best players from the age group across the country, giving Petch the chance to train and play alongside England’s best young talents.

Having played the game for only three years at Bude RFC before being signed up by the Chiefs Academy at the age of 14, Petch has made great strides in the early stages of his career — including recently signing a three-year professional deal at Sandy Park for the start of the 2018/19 season.

This isn’t the prop’s first taste of international rugby however, as in 2017 he represented England under 17s in France.

Petch is completing his Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) at Exeter College with the Chiefs, but is relishing the challenge the hectic schedule will bring.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and it’ll be great to experience the intensity of the England training routines. The schedule at the Chiefs Academy is a busy one and with England it will be a mental battle as well as a physical one.”

The former Ivybridge Community College student will look to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Street, who took the same path from the Academy as Petch, and has since debuted in the Aviva Premiership and continues to play for England at under 20 level.

Vice-principal of Exeter College, Rob Bosworth, passed on his congratulations, saying: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for these players to progress their rugby careers and learn from other quality players from across the country.”