Lees hopes to start with a bang

By Mark Stevens

It was only a few months ago that Exeter Chiefs newcomer Mitch Lees bid farewell to his former team-mates at London Welsh - this having just helped them achieve their goal of promotion back into the Aviva Premiership.

A prominent figure in the Welsh pack last term, Lees played his part as Justin Burnell’s side overcame Bristol in the RFU Championship Play-Off final in May to re-establish themselves back in English rugby’s top flight.

Since that night at the Memorial Stadium, Lees has swapped life with the Exiles for a new opportunity in Devon where he was one of eight signings brought to the club by Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter this summer.

Already the 25-year-old forward appears to have settled well into his new surroundings, figuring in all three of Exeter’s pre-season wins against Cardiff Blues, Ulster and Worcester Warriors.

This Sunday, however, it’s the Premiership which takes centre stage for Lees, who along with his fellow Chiefs have spent this past week working up a game plan they hope will be enough to see off last season’s Championship victors.

“Round one is important for everybody. Everyone wants to start on the front foot and having a win first up will put you in good stead,” said Lees, who could well feature in Sunday’s encounter.

“We have our goals for the first block of games and we’re going to be striving to hit that – or better it if we can.

“Round one is always tough, especially against the new guys London Welsh. They are really going to be firing so we’ve got to get out of the blocks and get stuck into them straight away.

“It’s their first game in the Premiership after a year off. It’s also the first game in the Kassam this season, so they’re going to be really up for it. We have to match that and better it and go into the game firing from the first minute.”

Sunday’s fixture marks the start of Exeter’s fifth year in the Premiership and Lees is well aware it’s vital his new club look to follow the lead of previous campaigns when the Chiefs have tended to start well during the opening weeks.

Certainly pre-season displays have given plenty of encouragement to the Chiefs cause and Lees - who scored a try in last Friday’s win at Worcester Warriors - has been pleased with how things have gone, both personally and collectively since his arrival at Sandy Park.



“It was a great display by the whole team,” said Lees. “To score four tries was one of the high points of the game.

“I wouldn’t call it a complete performance but it’s only pre-season so we’re getting there. You’ve got to be pleased with a 26-6 scoreline, but we also had a solid set-piece.”

That said, Lees knows this weekend’s clash will be another step up again and that his old club will themselves be looking to mark their return with a notable scalp.

Indeed, the Sydney-born powerhouse says that whilst he has plenty of happy memories from his time with Welsh, that will all be forgotten on Sunday as he now fully focused on helping the Chiefs to achieve their seasonal goals.

“I’m very proud of what I did last year with Welsh, we had a very good team,” he said. “We played very well in those finals to come away with the wins and get back in the Premiership.

“I had a big smile on my face when the fixtures got announced and I’m looking forward to it. It’s my old team, but it’s not only playing against my old team, it’s also playing against friends.

“But I’m totally focused on what Exeter have got to do now. It’s about the new club and focusing on what they want.”