A League is vital tool for the Chiefs

By Mark Stevens

Ricky Pellow says Exeter Chiefs will continue to use the Aviva Premiership A League as a key development tool in the club’s bid to bring through it’s young players.

Since their elevation into English rugby’s top tier back in 2010, the Devon club have used the Monday night fixtures to bring through a plentiful supply of talent from their academy ranks and expose them to senior rugby.

First team stars such as Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill and Henry Slade were all given exposure at this level before establishing themselves firmly within Rob Baxter’s Premiership and European plans.

This season, Pellow is again helping to oversee Exeter’s latest crop of young hopefuls as they bid to prove their worth alongside those senior players who themselves are looking to stake their own first team claims.

It’s been a winning formula for a number of years now and on Monday night the Exeter Braves made it back-to-back wins with a 45-13 victory away to Bristol United.

Tries from Jack Maunder (pictured), Sam Simmonds, Byron McGuigan (2), Brett Sturgess, Harrison Cully and Stuart Townsend were the highlights in an impressive display from the visitors, whose remaining points came courtesy of the boot of young fly-half Joe Simmonds.

Although the Braves led 14-10 at the break, it was not until the second half that Exeter really began to flex their muscles, brushing aside the attentions of their rivals with a powerful showing.

“It was another great performance,” said Pellow. “Going up to Clifton playing on a Monday night in the conditions that were put in front of us - and to put in the performance we did, it was really pleasing.

‘I thought we put the foundations in place during the first half and that allowed us to put a really solid second half performance in. Fair play to Bristol, they got stuck into use and they knocked us out of our stride in the first half, but it was pleasing that the guys got back on track and put into practice what we talked about at half time.

“We talked during the break about engaging them at the line, the defence they were coming up with was a little bit softer to what we are normally used to, so it allowed us more space on the edges. First half we weren’t really engaging them and they were able to drift off, but once we addressed that at half time, we really saw a difference.

“Joe Simmonds really commanded the ball, we attacked a lot better and they gave us space for people like Barry [McGuigan], Harrison and the back three guy to really have a go at them - and in the end we scored some lovely tries.”

Once again there were impressive displays from youngsters such as the Simmonds brothers, Maunder, Sam Skinner and Jonny Hill, but Pellow was also quick to praise the contribution of senior stars such as skipper Kai Horstmann (pictured), Brett Sturgess, Ben White, Chrysander Botha and McGuigan.

“Kai is one of our real leaders and each week he is playing well in the A League and training very well,” added Pellow. “Others are following his lead and with the injuries we’ve picked up recently, they are all doing their bit to stake a claim for a first team place.

“I think the big difference this year compared to other years is that we are now showing that we have a squad to cope should we pick up injuries. This is probably the first year where although we’ve picked up injuries, it’s not dented us as much as it would have in the past.”

At the same time, the growing emergence of the club’s academy talent is also thriving with Pellow insisting increased game time and exposure to higher league rugby is proving highly beneficial.

“Our loan agreements with the likes of the Pirates, Plymouth, Taunton and now Redruth are improving each year and they have been very positive in terms of the development of our younger players,” he continued.

“A prime example this year is Jack Maunder going down to Redruth, where he’s playing quality rugby and they are really helping to develop him. Also, Jake Woolmore is getting 80 minutes week in, week out with Taunton, while we’ve got guys at the Pirates and at Plymouth who are really stepping up each week.

“As a club we can see the benefits of putting these guys out there to these clubs and likewise those clubs are getting talented young players who can really add something to their squads. Obviously if we can keep developing guys along those line it will be very important to everyone.”