Welsh wing joins the Chiefs

 

By Mark Stevens

Welsh winger Tom James says the opportunity of testing himself in a new environment was a key factor in his decision to swap rugby life at the Cardiff Blues for that with the ambitious Exeter Chiefs.

After a seven-year stint in the Welsh capital, the 25-year-old speedster will be heading west this summer to team up with Rob Baxter’s Aviva Premiership squad on a two-year deal.

James’ capture is Baxter’s first foray into recruitment for the 2013/14 campaign and his arrival will be seen as a massive boost to the Chiefs, who have already been hard at work tying down new deals for the likes of Brett Sturgess, Luke Arscott, Will Chudley, James Hanks, Carl Rimmer, Chris Whitehead and Phil Dollman in recent weeks.

With over 100 league and cup appearances and 39 tries for the Blues, James not only has a proven track record at club level, but also on the international stage where he has to date won ten caps for his country.

“Signing for Exeter Chiefs is a great move for me,” said James. “They are a team that I’ve watched come up to the Premiership over the last few years and do really well.

“I’ve had a fantastic seven years with the Blues and I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to play for them and for the support I’ve been shown over my career.

“There are many highlights I’ve had, including winning the EDF Energy and Amlin Challenge Cups, but I felt the time was right for a fresh challenge.

“Exeter are clearly an ambitious club and having talked to the coaches about where they want to go and also the plans for the stadium, I felt I wanted to be a part of it all and experience something different.”

Although James has previously tackled English sides in both domestic and European cup competitions, he says the opportunity of facing the elite of the Aviva Premiership on a weekly basis is something he is keen to experience.

“I’ve spent most of my career playing in the Rabodirect Pro12, but I think playing in the Premiership will definitely challenge me in different ways. It’s an incredibly tough division and the intensity you can see is there every week.

“As I said, I’ve watched Exeter come up into the division and I like the style of attacking rugby they play.  They’ve shown not just this season, but also last year as well, that they can compete with all the top sides.

“This year they were put in a tough Heineken Cup group, yet they beat the Scarlets home and away, and they gave both Leinster and Clermont Auvergne a run for their money as well, so I’m looking forward to being a part of it all.”

Although James has not featured for Wales since November 2010, the Rhymney Valley-born back says he still harbours hopes of playing on the international stage.

He added: “I’ve not really set myself any real aims as yet, all I want to do initially is settle in, try and get myself in the team, and look to score some tries.  Of course I would love to play for Wales again, but to do that you need to be playing well for your club and that will be the main objective for me.”

And James is aware he will have a couple of friendly faces already in the Chiefs camp to welcome him into life at Sandy Park. Flanker Ben White is a former Blues’ team-mate of his, whilst prop Craig Mitchell was on the same Welsh summer tour as him back in 2009.