Skinner is keen to learn

By Mark Stevens

Sam Skinner believes his game is improving all the time thanks to the help and support he is receiving from all those inside Exeter Chiefs.

The young back-row forward has impressed many during pre-season, producing some stand-out displays for the Academy side in their wins over National League opposition such as Exmouth and the Cornish All Blacks.

After months sidelined with a knee injury, the 19-year-old is making up on lost ground as he looks to show the Chiefs coaching staff what he has to offer.

Already the signs are hugely encouraging with Skinner - who has converted to the back-row from his former position in the centre - producing notable displays against senior opponents.

"It's great to be back playing and showing what I can do," he said. "Training full-time with the first team squad, I'm learning all the time and it's something I've been able to take into the Academy games.

"Right now it's early in the season, but I'm enjoying everything I'm doing. The last year or so has been pretty tough with the injury and I've spent a lot of time just getting my head down and do what I had to do.

"I'm like any player, you want to be out on the pitch and not inside a physio room or in a gym working on rehab. Sometimes, though, it has to be done. The work I've done with the medical staff and the conditioners, it's made a lot stronger and I'm feeling the rewards of it all when I'm training and now that I am playing again."

And with the Aviva Premiership A League set to kick-off next week when the Exeter Braves travel to Saracens, Skinner is hoping he can be part of the action under coaches Ricky Pellow and Rob Hunter.

"It would be great if I could be involved in the A League and maybe the LV= Cup later in the season," he said. "All the boys, especially the senior ones like James Scaysbrook, they've been great with. Scays is class in terms of analysing a game and going through the clips. He tells me what I can do better and shows me different aspects of the game that you probably don't realise as a youngster.

"I know having that kind of support around me - and also from the coaches - is really going to help me improve my game."