Salmon keen to make his mark
By Mark Stevens
6/7/17
Exeter Chiefs newcomer Toby Salmon says he is looking to take his game to a higher level following his summer move from Championship outfit Rotherham.
The 24-year-old lock is one of five new recruits head coach Rob Baxter has brought to last season’s Aviva Premiership winners, joining the likes of Nic White, Matt Kvesic, Tom O’Flaherty and James Freeman in the playing ranks at Sandy Park.
For Salmon, however, his switch from Yorkshire to that of Devon is a move he is clearly relishing and although he’s only just over a week into his new start with the Chiefs, already he is settling in well to his new surroundings.
"All the guys here, it's just going to bring a different level for me," he said. ”They are the champions and currently the best team in the country so there's a lot of people I can learn from and there's still lots I can learn from people who are a lot more experienced than me at Premiership level – so it's really exciting.
"When you go to any side they've seen what you're capable of and that's why they've recruited you, but at the end of the day you've got to go there and make an impression, no matter what level you're coming from.
“Being at Exeter will be quite telling for how I'm going to get on, but I'm just going to give it my all in the next few months and then see where I am."
During his time with Rotherham, Salmon demonstrated his proven qualities on a regular basis and it was no real surprise that his eye-catching displays brought him to the attention of clubs in the top flight.
Baxter, together with forwards coach Rob Hunter, were clearly impressed with what they saw of the player during their recruitment phase - and now they are hoping he can deliver in the colours of Exeter, starting with the upcoming pre-season clashes against the Cornish Pirates, Dragons and the Cardiff Blues.
"I was reaching out to a few Premiership clubs," added Salmon. "As a Championship player you always want to go up to the next level so I was seeing if they were interested in a player like me so luckily it worked out both ways and Exeter were interested in having me on board.
"Obviously them being from the Championship as well means they still look at Championship players, which a lot of teams in the Premiership have come away from, but they still see there's talent in the Championship. It's an amazing thing to be a part of."
