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'At first it was something I thought I could use to gain an opportunity to move home'
By Josh Raisey
Recently retired Exeter Chiefs fly-half Gareth Steenson has said that he “never wanted to play rugby for another club” after moving to Sandy Park.
The 36-year-old announced in July that he would be retiring at the end of the season, but finished his time in Devon in style, winning a historic European and domestic double.
The former Ireland under-21 international addressed his retirement on social media on Monday, describing the career he has had and giving his thanks to Exeter.
Having come through the Ulster Academy, Steenson moved to England and had a season with both Rotherham Titans and Cornish Pirates in the Championship.
He made the final move of his career to Exeter in 2008, and though he originally hoped it would facilitate a return to Ireland, he explained that he never wanted to leave, saying: “Then came the move that would change my life, Exeter Chiefs… At first it was something I thought i could use to gain an opportunity to move home, but as the years passed the journey progressed & it became very obvious to me that I never wanted to play rugby for another club.”
Steenson was one of the surviving members of the squad that earned promotion to the Premiership in 2010, kicking 24 points in the second-league decider against Bristol a decade ago to clinch their move to the top tier.
Though he was an unused substitute in both the Heineken Champions Cup final and the Gallagher Premiership final, it is nevertheless a perfect way to end a career.
He also thanked the club and the fans for the support he has received since arriving in 2008.
“I’d like to thank all the coaches/ players/ staff I’ve worked with since the first day at the club. The training sessions, the games to the friendships I’ve made on/off the field it’s been a special club to be part of & I’m forever grateful to everyone.
“Can I say a huge thank you to all the supporters & the wider Exeter community who have been behind me every step of the way. The support you’ve shown me & my family has been incredible & I’m truly humbled by it. Some I’ve got to know personally & now consider to be true friends.”
Steenson was pivotal to the ascent through the English and European ranks that Rob Baxter’s side made over the past ten years, and though his gametime was reduced in recent seasons with the emergence of captain Joe Simmonds, he finished his career as the Premiership’s fifth-highest points scorer.
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Spot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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