100 Not Out for Jess

By Stuart James

When Matt Jess transferred from the Cornish All Blacks to Exeter Chiefs back in 2008, little did he know he was about to embark on the most incredible ride of his rugby career.

The ‘Heamoor Flyer’ always had potential, as he had shown for Cornish Pirates, Newport-Gwent Dragons and then the Launceston outfit. But that potential was really realised when he made the relatively short move up the A30 and agreed to sign for former Exeter Director of Rugby Pete Drewett.

Now, some seven years on, Jess’ career has hit grand heights. He has helped Exeter win promotion to the Premiership, win the LV= Cup – their first major piece of silverware – and retained his place in the side as the club have become not just a fixture in English rugby’s top flight, but a major force as well. It speaks volumes that someone that has been committed to the club for so long has achieved such things and it is therefore fitting that Jess will become the first Exeter player to reach 100 Premiership appearances when he runs out at Newcastle on Sunday.

“The ambition was there and I could see where the club was going with Pete Drewett and the set-up and the way that has developed has been outstanding,” he said.

“To have come through the Championship and spent six, seven years in the Premiership is massive for the club. We are now a formidable Premiership force and back in 2008 when I signed, that was just the ambition. Now, I am sitting here talking about it, breathing it, playing in it.

“As a youngster growing up, all I wanted to do was play a Premiership game and have your name on the back of that jersey, but then it was playing Heineken Cup games and big European semi-finals like last year and we are attracting and signing a lot of international players as well.

“It’s great to achieve 100 games and it is great to achieve it with one club , even if it does suggest I am getting old!”

Jess is no fool. He knows that at the age of 31, his playing career cannot go on forever, but while he still can, he sets a high standard for himself both in terms of his performance levels on a match-day and with his preparation.

Plenty of players have come and gone during Jess’s time at the club, yet he retains an insatiable appetite for the game. And he has no desire to ease up either.

“I think a lot of it is down to my passion for the game and not taking what I do for a job for granted,” he said. “I know I am very lucky to be playing many people’s hobby and I feel I am very lucky to be out there playing and training.

“Also maximising everything to weight sessions, reviews and being on top of rehab and recovery and not doing too many extras.

“I mean, years ago on a day off, I would go and do a weights session, but I don’t bother now because I know I don’t need it and also, I know I will be fresh and ready for the next game. They are only little tweaks, but they are also key things. A lot of people do them and we are very good at doing them at this club.”

As with any sportsman at the top echelon of their game, playing at the top has meant sacrifices along the way.

“There have been sacrifices with diet and the things you do at the weekend and stuff,” said Jess. “You often get asked to go away at weekends and stuff, but you can’t go because you have commitments, so there are a few sacrifices, but then, you do get the enjoyment of going to play a game of Premiership rugby, win as a team, enjoy it as a team and have a few beers on the bus on the way home.”

Win or lose at Newcastle this weekend, there are sure to be plenty of beers sunk regardless. If only to toast the incredible achievements of the ‘Heamoor Flyer’.