Simmonds praises squad effort

By Mark Stevens
25/5/21

Record-breaking Exeter Chiefs star Sam Simmonds has heaped high praise on his team-mates for propelling him into the Gallagher Premiership history books.

The newly-named British & Irish Lion continued his rich vein of form by scoring a hat-trick of tries in his side's latest top-flight victory over London Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium.

The No.8's second treble of the season saw him become the top-flight’s leading try scorer in a single season, eclipsing the mark of 17 jointly held by Dominic Chapman and Christian Wade that has stood since the 1997-98 campaign.

Simmonds reached the milestone with three rounds of the regular season still to play as England head coach Eddie Jones - who has chosen not to use him at international level since March 2018 - watched from the stands.

“It means a lot to me," said Simmonds. "As a team we’re striving for greatness and we’re striving to win the competition. The boys want me to score, the boys want me to get the record. They’re putting me in those positions and credit to them for helping me get the record.

“I turned up at Exeter at 18 not really knowing what position I wanted to play. About 85 kilos. Some people probably think I’m still 85 kilos now. They’ve allowed me to be me and score tries and excel as a player. The players do so much for me. I’m so thankful to be part of the team.”

Sections of a 3,988 crowd in west London chanted ‘Simmo is a Lion’ and the back-row reflected on his selection by Warren Gatland despite being deemed surplus to requirements by England.

“It’s surreal. That was not something I ever dreamed of. I wanted to play for Exeter. I wanted to play one time, that was it,” Simmonds said. “I’m lucky to have played for Exeter a lot of times, lucky enough to have played for England in 17-18. And now I’m going to look forward to the summer.”

Exeter's victory against the Exiles meant they reclaimed second place and their place in the end-of-season play-offs for a sixth successive season.

Alongside Simmonds' hat-trick of tries, winger Tom O'Flaherty and young brother Joe, who also kicked three conversions, completed the scoring for Rob Baxter's side, who this Sunday play host to Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park (1:30pm).