Stu Townsend (born 11 October 1995)[1] is a scrum-half playing professional rugby union for Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Rugby.

Stu Townsend
Birth nameStuart Townsend
Date of birth (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthTorbay, England
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum half
Current team Exeter Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–Present Exeter Chiefs 101 (90)
2013–2014 Taunton (loan) 13 (45)
2014–2017 Cornish Pirates (loan) 35 (25)
Correct as of 17 July 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015 England U20 9 (15)
Correct as of 17 July 2019

Early life

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Born in Torbay, Townsend was first introduced to rugby as a six-year-old at his local club Kingsbridge. He was educated at the local Primary and Community College before attending Ivybridge Community College, where he joined the Exeter Chiefs Academy system.[citation needed]

Early career

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Townsend featured for England at various age levels, including that of the Under-20s,[citation needed] and also in the National Leagues with both Taunton Titans and the Cornish Pirates.[citation needed]

Exeter Chiefs

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After playing regularly in the Championship Townsend was recalled to the Chiefs squad midway through the 16/17 season after injuries to fellow nines, Dave Lewis and Will Chudley.

After a number of appearances off the bench both in the Premiership and Europe, on his first full starting appearance he scored a try against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.[2] He started the final as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016-17 English Premiership.[3]

He scored a try for Exeter in the second minute of the semi-final against Newcastle Falcons to help book a place in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup for Exeter to be played against Bath Rugby on the 18 March 2018.[4] The final was rearranged to March 30 due to snow and Townsend played as the Chiefs won 28-11.[5]

After making 106 appearances for Exeter he signed a new contract with the club in May 2024.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Stuart Townsend ESPNscrum profile". ESPN. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Exeter Chiefs Player List". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  3. ^ "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup: Exeter Chiefs 20-17 Newcastle Falcons". BBC Sport. 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  5. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Bath 11-28 Exeter Chiefs". 29 March 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Townsend and Street sign new Exeter contracts". BBC Sport. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.