Exeter Centurions are a

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

team based in Exeter,

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...

. They play in the South West Rugby League.

History

''Exeter Centurions'' were formed by Basingstoke Beasts founder Joe Catcheside. They joined the newly formed South West Division of the

Rugby League Conference The Rugby League Conference (RLC) (also known as the Co-operative Rugby League Conference as a result of sponsorship from The Co-operative Group), was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England ...

in 2007. In their first two seasons, Exeter only won one matc

Exeter co-hosted the 2009 South West Nines competition and reached the final before losing to Exeter University at Duckes Meadow. In the regular season, the club's performance improved significantly, finishing in third in the league and reaching the SW Cup Final, which they lost against East Devon Eagles at Plymouth Albion's Brickfields ground. The club continued to improve in 2010, opening with a record 5 game winning sequence before falling to a last gasp defeat in the cup quarter- final against Devon Sharks in

Torquay Torquay ( ) is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies south of the county town of Exeter and east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paig ...

. The club lost only two league fixtures, but again missed out on the Grand Final after a narrow defeat to the Eagles. Centurions went on to represent the South West Conference in the National competition, losing a close game against Neath Port Talbot Steelers. Once again, Centurions lost the South West Nines final to the Exeter University team. 2011 proved a disappointing season, after the loss of influential players Brent Ryan and Alex Stevens. The club suffered several narrow defeats, including an extra-time loss in the cup semi-final against Plymouth Titans, and finished only sixth in the league, is worst performance for three years. In 2012, the club is underwent a relaunch. It secured the rights to wear the city crest of Exeter on its shirts, and branding itself 'The Pride of the City'. Despite a rather erratic league record, the club enjoyed its greatest triumph to date in the South West Cup. After an unexpected victory in the semi-final against 2011 League Champions, Somerset Vikings, the club went on to win the South West Rugby League Cup Final, beating North Devon Raiders 34-14 at Launceston, on 22 July 2012. Dave Bargent scored three tries, with Alex Stevens, returning with dispensation from his professional contract at Featherstone Rovers. adding two, and taking the Man of the Match Award. Influential stand-off Alex Ford scored the other try, with Adam Willows kicking five goals. Captain Matt Coldrey - with Stevens, and Nathan Clark (formerly Nathan Hardy), were winners who debuted for the club in their first run-out, at the 2007 South West Nines five years earlier. Also in that original team was Cup Final Referee, Chris Symons.

External links

Official site

Exeter Centurions on Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Exeter Centurions Rugby League Conference teams Sport in Exeter Rugby clubs established in 2007 2007 establishments in England Rugby league teams in Devon English rugby league teams