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Joe Simmonds to become the latest big name to quit Exeter - report

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Double-winning skipper Joe Simmonds is poised to become the latest big name to exit Exeter at the end of the current season. Media reports in France claim that the out-half has struck a deal to join Pau next season as a replacement for the Stade Francais-bound Zack Henry. The suggested move would see Simmonds come up against his older brother Sam, the Exeter back-rower whose deal to switch to Montpellier was sealed last September.

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French website rugbyrama.fr reported: “Pau have struck a blow on the transfer market. According to our information, the Bearn club have obtained the agreement of English No10 Joe Simmonds for next season.

“The 26-year-old, who has been playing for Exeter since his professional debut in 2016, is recognised as one of the best out-halves in the English Premiership. Even if he has never been selected by England, Simmonds has solid experience and a good track record.

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“He has 166 games with Exeter, whom he became captain of in 2020 when he was only 23 years old. Suffice to say, Joe Simmonds will be a huge added value for Pau.

“He has the advantage of still being young to integrate perfectly into the Bearn club project led by Sebastien Piqueronies while bringing his experience (32 Champions Cup matches) and his qualities as a leader. He is currently the fourth-best scorer in the English league with 93 points, just behind Owen Farrell (98 points).”

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Having endured issues last term with form and selection, Simmonds has been a starter in 13 of his 16 Exeter appearances this season and the revelation that he has apparently been snapped up by Pau emerged in the same week that the English club confirmed the loss of long-serving back-rower Dave Ewers to Ulster.

Luke Cowan-Dickie is another who is definitely leaving Exeter, as he has signed for Montpellier, while the expectation is that Jack Nowell will also exit Sandy Park.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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