ALIVE AND KICKING
Simmonds’ Exeter living the dream
JOE SIMMONDS will pinch himself before leading Exeter out for today’s Champions Cup final at Ashton Gate.
The last time Chiefs were in Bristol for such a big match, Exeter did not even feature on the sporting map of Britain.
Now the city is 80 minutes from becoming rugby capital of Europe. Simmonds can still picture his 13- yearold self watching Gareth Steenson kick the Chiefs to Championship victory over Bristol and into the Premiership for the first time.
A decade on, he is captain against France’s Racing 92, with legend Steenson his understudy on the bench.
“It’s crazy,” said the fly- half. “I was at the play- off final in 2010 as a fan. It’s been an incredible ride.”
And all the more special for the fact he is a local lad playing alongside his big brother, England No8 Sam. It reads like a Hollywood script, save for the bit about Covid restrictions preventing the family from being at the game.
But the 23- year- old is determined he and Sam give the story a happy ending by getting the better of Finn Russell and his band of Parisian all- stars.
“Our parents gave us so much growing up, always taking us to matches, and it’s nice to give something back to them,” he said.
“Sam and I used to scrap when we lived together and our mum hated it to be honest. But it got us to where we are now, loving playing together week in, week out.
“Playing with Sam drives me to perform better. If I am honest when I started as captain I was always a bit nervous with him sat watching me.
“With me being the younger brother, he didn’t want to listen. But I think he now respects me more and knows how proud of him I was when he got capped by England.”
Eddie Jones has yet to come calling for Joe but the England boss will be watching closely to see how he deals with the biggest game of his life.
BT Sport is the home of European Rugby. BT Sport 2 will show the European Champions Cup final today from 4pm.