Alfie Griffin and Max Pearce become latest Bath students to represent England Rugby Universities in Le Crunch against France
Front-row duo Alfie Griffin and Max Pearce capped eye-catching domestic seasons by becoming the latest University of Bath players to represent England Rugby Universities in their annual fixture against France.
Pearce and Griffin started at hooker and tighthead prop respectively for England, who were narrowly beaten 42-31 in Le Crunch which this year took place in Terrasson.
Sports Management and Coaching student Ethan Wetherell, who is a Performance Analyst for University of Bath Rugby Club and Bath Rugby U18s, was part of the England staff.
Pearce and Griffin, who both study Sports Performance, received their call-ups after impressing for the Bath men’s 1st XV in BUCS Super Rugby during the 2024-25 campaign, with both being voted into the league’s Team of the Season by opposition coaches.
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Pearce captained Bath to a best-ever league campaign during the BUCS Super Rugby era, scoring seven tries, while Griffin was a regular starter in the front row and scored one of his two tries during a player of the match performance in the Anniversary Game draw against Hartpury at The Rec in October.
Previous Bath students to have represented England in Le Crunch include Iwan Price-Thomas, Will Jeanes, Jasper Spandler, Will Partington and Jack Kenningham. The latter has this week been named in Steve Borthwick’s senior England squad for a two-day training camp ahead of June’s fixture against a France XV at Twickenham.
Visit teambath.com/rugby to find out more about the student rugby programme at the University of Bath.
