Chiefs sign top points scorer
Mar
National League One’s top points scorer and most prolific kicker Gareth Steenson has signed to play for Exeter Chiefs from the start of next season.
Steenson currently plies his trade with Chiefs’ West Country rivals Cornish Pirates and has racked up a total of 273 points so far this season with five tries, 52 conversions, 47 penalties and one drop-goal with a current kicking success rate of 83 per cent.
The 23-year-old is a former Ireland U21s player and has also played for Rotherham and his native Dungannon. He had the honour of being the U21s World Championships’ top points scorer two years in a row and played in the final in Scotland in 2004.
Steenson will be joined in his move to Exeter by fellow Pirates player Chris Cracknell.
Also just 23, Cracknell plays in all three positions in the back row and has previously played for Newbury and Harlequins, as well as England U21s and U19s and the Young England sevens team.
Director of rugby Pete Drewett said: “I first watched Gareth when he was representing Ireland U21s in the World Championship final against New Zealand and I was impressed by his ability at the time. We have played against him twice this season and we are still impressed, so I am delighted that he has chosen to join us to fulfil his ambitions.
“Gareth is a very accurate kicker of the ball both out of hand and for points. He trains and works hard to perfect his skills. It will be great to have somebody with those high standards of kicking coming into what is already a very strong squad with two outstanding fly-halves in Tony Yapp and Danny Gray. This season has shown that in the hooker, scum-half and fly-half positions especially, you need strength in depth due to the natural rate of injuries.”
Drewett continued: “Chris is somebody I have worked with in the past at U19s and U21s levels and he always impressed me with his determination and work ethic. It has been interesting to watch him develop into a very competitive player who can play at openside and blindside flanker as well as No 8. I am sure he will bring a lot of energy to our forwards.”
