Steenson aims to sign off in style as a champion
EXETER Chiefs playmaker Gareth Steenson is eyeing a league and Champions Cup ‘double’ to bring down the curtain on his illustrious career.
Steenson, 35, has been one of Premiership rugby’s standout performers since kicking Chiefs to promotion from the Championship in 2010.
However, European success has proved elusive – something the Ulsterman wants to rectify before moving into coaching next year.
Steenson told The Rugby Paper: “We make no secret of the fact we want to do better in Europe this season. It’s been an Achilles heel for us and we haven’t really performed, so we want to get that sewn up and we’re in a good place to do it.
“We want to bring the Premiership form we show week-in, week-out into that European cauldron and really make an impact there.”
Steenson believes Chiefs have the squad to fight on all fronts, adding: “It was so disappointing to lose last season’s Premiership final after being the better side against Saracens for 60 minutes, but we’ve learned the lessons from that.
“We’re putting together a squad that can compete so we’ll look to get off to a fast start in the league – then hopefully our World Cup guys will come back injuryfree and feeling good about themselves to give us another boost.”
Steenson is earmarked for a coaching role at Chiefs and is currently cutting his teeth as an attack coach at National One Plymouth Albion.
He explained: “I’m still a player first and foremost but I enjoy being in a different environment and it’s helping with my development.
“It makes me appreciate different positions on the field so when the day comes to go into coaching full-time, I’ll be ready for it.”
Plymouth have big ambitions themselves, with Steenson adding: “There’s a lot of potential down there and rugby in the south-west is huge.
“Plymouth’s a club Chiefs and Cornish Pirates used to have big games against and it would be great to get them back to those levels. It’s an exciting time but there’s still a job for me to do at Exeter and I’m feeling in very good nick.”