Townsend ready to lead by example

By Mark Stevens
19/3/22

Stu Townsend says he’s ready to ‘lead by example’ as he returns to Exeter Chiefs duty in today’s Premiership Rugby Cup encounter at home to Worcester Warriors.

The 26-year-old has endured a frustrating campaign to date, featuring just once against Sale Sharks back in October, having undergone reconstruction surgery on a shoulder injury.

Now, fully-fit and raring to go, the experienced scrum-half is looking to make up for lost time as he skippers the Chiefs into their final pool fixture at Sandy Park.

“I’m massively looking forward to getting back out there,” said Townsend. “It’s been a long time, something like four or five months, and it’s been a tough rehab process to get back. Now, though, I’m chomping at the bit to get playing again and I’m excited going into this weekend.”

Townsend will head up a varied mix for the Chiefs against the Midlanders, lining up alongside some first-team stars desperate to get much-needed game minutes under their belts, as well as an ever-increasing glut of the club’s youngsters, several of whom are poised to make their senior bows.

“You’ve got boys coming back from injury, who needed to get that game time - and you’ve got a number of young lads, all of whom will be excited and nervous to get out there and play,” explained Townsend. “Hopefully, I can lead them in the right way and we can put on a good performance for the crowd.

“For all of us, it’s an opportunity not only to play, but to go out and show what we can do. Ricky [Pellow] and the others coaches have had their input this week, but they’ve let us a group drive a lot of what we want to do. They want us to go out and be brave, express ourselves, enjoy the occasion and, hopefully, come away with the result.

“It’s a changed up side, but we’ve got the likes of myself, Will Witty, Billy Keast all coming back from injury, working alongside the likes of Jack Walsh who was excellent in the earlier rounds, and others like Dan John and Arthur Relton who have been tearing up for the University this season.

“Training this week has been really good and you can sense that there is a real buzz amongst the group to go out and enjoy ourselves. This competition has for many years been a real foundation for young players to go out and show what they are about, so let’s hope that continues at the weekend.”