Teignmouth toasts to the Simmonds brothers with their Champions Cup triumph helping proud local club raise £1,500 behind the bar
- The exploits of the Simmonds brothers on Saturday made their home club proud
- Both were heavily involved as Exeter lifted the Champions Cup at Ashton Gate
- Teignmouth toasted their local heroes and raised £1,500 in total behind the bar
The Simmonds brothers had the whole of Teignmouth RFC toasting them on Saturday night – and helped the club make £1,500 behind the bar after Exeter’s sensational European Cup win.
Captain Joe, 23, lifted the continental trophy just six years after secretly running out for his home club’s first team.
And Sam, 25, is now European Player of the Year having started his rugby down on the Devon coast too.
The whole of Teignmouth RFC were toasting the Simmonds brothers after their Cup success
The pair’s exploits at Ashton Gate had all at Bitton Park roaring and chairman Russell Sowden spoke of his pride in the Teignmouth tyros.
‘We were at our maximum capacity with all the COVID controls, so had 55 people in the clubhouse, and it was absolutely manic,’ said Sowden.
‘We managed to take £1,500 over the bar on Saturday, which helps in these times. Unfortunately we had to kick everyone out at 10pm, but we will have a proper celebration with them soon!
‘Some of the boys who know him well put a load of posters up of Sam and Joe together in different eras, and one of them with their dad, David, down at the club.
The two siblings’ superb exploits at Ashton Gate saw everyone at Bitton Park feeling pride
‘We had a Simmonds themed day and it was mad – particularly when Joe decided to take that penalty at the end.
‘I was there thinking “go for touch and run the clock down!” but he went for it and backed himself.
‘Everyone was cheering, and we’re all made up for them.’ Teignmouth can now say they have developed two European Cup winners and are in celebratory mood.
‘We managed to get Joe to play senior rugby for us for two season without Exeter realising,’ revealed Sowden.
‘He was 17. As soon as we could get him in we did as he was absolutely class.
Joe had kicked a last-minute penalty in Exeter’s dramatic triumph over Racing 92 on Saturday
‘It’s so typical of Rob Baxter to back him as a quiet leader. At 17 he was quiet too, but commanded respect because of the quality of his work.
‘Sam’s old coach Graham Pattison is not one to take the limelight, but is a solid life-time rugby player and fan. Sam was a centre for us then!
‘The Chiefs have built such a good relationship with the local clubs – it’s just great how they back us and we support them by giving them our top talent!
‘All of this coming so early, so young for them, and seeing Sam so happy for his brother is brilliant to see.
‘Any opportunity when they’re not playing and we’ve got senior rugby on, they come down. They come to junior prize-givings and are very generous with their time.
Teignmouth RFC is fully booked for Exeter’s Premiership final clash with Wasps this weekend
‘It would be brilliant for them to do the Double, and I’ve got some ideas to do a fund-raiser down here with them down the line.’
Teignmouth RFC is already fully booked for round two – this Saturday’s Premiership Final against Wasps – as they look for their boys to complete the Double.
‘I can only imagine how surreal it is for those lads, as they are such well-grounded local boys,’ Sowden said.
‘All their Christmases have come in one go, and they still have another final to play!’