Across both our campuses in Exeter, we have excellent facilities including many different indoor and outdoor pitches, squash courts, gyms with the latest fitness equipment and free-weight areas, exercise studios and sports halls. We also have an indoor pool at St Luke’s, an outdoor one at the Streatham Campus, a fleet of firefly dinghies at the Roadford RYA Sailing Centre and a well-equipped boathouse on the Exeter canal.
Athletic Union
The Athletic Union is responsible for coordinating all the sports clubs which provide both competitive and recreational sport. Students of all skill levels are welcome. You’ll find all the major field sports, plus a lot of water sports (Exeter’s location is perfect), martial arts and many more indoor and outdoor sports. The intramural sport programme has over 2,000 students participating across a range of activities including 5-a-side and 11-a-side football, badminton, basketball, mixed hockey and mixed netball. The Sports Volunteering Scheme goes from strength to strength, with over 100 of our students helping to provide sporting opportunities for children in Exeter. More information can be found on our Athletic Union website.
Sports clubs in Exeter
| American Football | Football | Rowing | Taekwondo |
| Archery | Gliding | Rugby League | Tennis |
| Athletics | Golf | Rugby Union | Trampolining |
| Badminton | Hockey | Sailing | Triathlon |
| Basketball | Jiujitsu | Snooker and Pool | Ultimate Frisbee |
| Bike | Karate (Shotokan) | Snowsports | Volleyball |
| Canoe | Lacrosse | Speleology (Caving) | Waterpolo |
| Cheerleading and Gymnastics | Netball | Squash and Racketball | Waterski |
| Clay Shooting | Polo | Sub Aqua | Wake Board |
| Climbing | Powerkiting | Surf | Windsurfing |
| Cricket | Riding | Swimming | Kite Surfing |
| Fencing | Rifle | Table Tennis |
General recreation programme
The Sports Park in Exeter runs a varied and popular programme of fitness classes throughout the year including pump and tone, body combat, spinning and circuits as well as tai chi, yoga, zumba, pilates and pole dancing. Gym inductions are offered to all new users of fitness equipment. Personal training and fitness testing are available from highly qualified staff. Subsidised coaching, teaching and officiating courses are organised in many sports.
High performance programme
The University High Performance Programme oversees the development and delivery of our elite sporting infrastructure including the management of our focus sports and flagship Sports Scholarship Scheme. There are approximately 250 athletes across 10 focus sports on the programme.
Further information on facilities, programmes and scholarships can be found on our Sport website.
Having played rugby professionally for two years before coming to university, I chose to come to Exeter because it was far and away the best place for me to combine academic studies at an excellent university with playing rugby to a high level. As part of the sports scholarship scheme, I’ve benefited from elite level support from top class strength and conditioning coaches, cookery and nutritional workshops, and mentoring throughout my time here. I’ve also had the chance to give something back through talks about sport to local school children.
Being part of the rugby club has been a real highlight. Whether you’re an elite athlete or a social player there are opportunities for everyone. Teams are coached by players from Exeter Chiefs and you really benefit from their professionalism. Last year the 1st XV reached the semi-finals of BUCS, and hope to go one step further this year and win the final at Twickenham.
Our annual Varsity match against Bath was at the home of Exeter Chiefs, Sandy Park, where we won in front of nearly 4,000 students, which was an amazing experience. I’ve also captained England Students, playing matches against France Universities and the Portuguese national side. I hope to return to playing rugby after graduating, and Exeter has been the perfect place to springboard me into in the future.
Tom Sargeant, BA Geography
