Former Gloucester powerhouse Junior Paramore has said he cannot understand why Exeter Chiefs legend Gareth Steenson hasn’t been picked for his national side.
Paramore has been named amongst a Classic Lions side that will take on a Chiefs select XV at Sandy Park on August 12.
And he was full of praise for the Exeter fly-half.
He said: “As a rugby player you always set goals to achieve something but to be the number one choice for such a long period of time tells you everything you need to know about the effort Gareth puts in on and off the field.
Gareth Steenson insists Exeter Chiefs are a much different outfit to that of 12 months ago as they gear up for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership Final against Wasps at Twickenham.
Rob Baxter’s side booked a return trip to English Rugby HQ by sinking reigning Premiership and European champions Saracens 18-16 in a pulsating encounter at Sandy Park.
Sam Simmonds’ touchdown with just a minute remaining sent the Chiefs fans into pandemonium and ensured they would be heading back for a second successive appearance in English rugby’s showpiece event.
A lot has happened in the six years since these two clubs last met in league battle.
Exeter Chiefs have emerged as a force not only within the English game, but also that of Europe, whilst Bristol have had to slug it out in the Championship until they rejoined the top flight at the end of last season.
The significant strides made by the men from Devon in that time, however, were there for all to see in this maiden Aviva Premiership tussle between the Westcountry rivals.
Try doubles from Olly Woodburn and Thomas Waldrom, plus a late score for Sam Hill, ensured a...
Gareth Steenson says Exeter Chiefs can expect to face a fired-up Bristol outfit when the two collide in tonight’s Westcountry derby at Ashton Gate (7:45pm).
Facing off competitively for the first time in six years, the Chiefs playmaker is reading little into the current fortunes of Andy Robinson’s side, who have yet to win in three games since their return to the top flight this season.
Last weekend’s 70-22 defeat at in-form Wasps represented Bristol’s lowest point yet, but Steenson believes a return to home soil, coupled with the cut and thrust of a derby occasion, will...
Gareth Steenson says a return to home comforts can help provide the perfect lift he and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates need after losing to Wasps in their seasonal opener at Wasps at the weekend.
Rob Baxter’s side will kick-off their home campaign this Sunday with a testing engagement against reigning English and European champions Saracens at Sandy Park (3pm).
With just one defeat on home soil in 20 months – that incidentally against Saracens last February – Steenson admits delivering on home turf is a key incentive.
“It’s a good test to put things right,” said the...
In the end it wasn’t quite to be for Exeter Chiefs, but Gareth Steenson insists the club have plenty to proud of following a quite outstanding season.
Undone 28-20 in Saturday’s Aviva Premiership final by Saracens, the dreams of a first-ever top flight title will have to wait for Rob Baxter’s side a little longer.
Trailing 23-6 at the interval, the Devonians produced a rousing second half performance to haul themselves back into contention with just five minutes remaining.
Saracens, however, showed just why they have been the stand-out force, both domestically and...
Over the years Gareth Steenson has enjoyed his fair share of magic moments in the colours of Exeter Chiefs.
Six years ago he was the darling of the Travelling Tribe on a wet and wild night in Bristol. Yesterday, the Irishman again lapped up the acclaim of the Devon public as he helped guide his side to a first-ever Aviva Premiership final next Saturday.
Since joining from the Cornish Pirates in 2008, the 32-year-old has become part of Sandy Park folklore, establishing himself not only as a firm fans’ favourite, but also the club’s leading points-scorer.
Gareth Steenson admitted he was ‘lost for words’ after he was crowned Exeter Chiefs’ Player of the Year at their annual awards night.
In front of almost 600 people at the club’s Sandy Park Stadium, the Irish fly-half landed the highly sought after prize from his peers, beating off stiff competition from team-mates Don Armand and Will Chudley.
Steenson has enjoyed another stellar season in Exeter colours, not only topping the point-scoring charts in the Aviva Premiership, but also overtaking the long-standing record of Tony Yapp as the Devon club’s leading points-scorer....
Exeter Chiefs fly-half Gareth Steenson says his side are fully focused, as they prepare their visit to Wasps in the European Champions Cup Quarter final.
Steenson has been ever present in the Chiefs rise in recent years and has praised the hard work of the club, which has seen them qualify for their first European quater-final.
He said: “We’ve worked really hard to get into this position, it’s a fixture we’re really looking forward to.”
The Irishman says the Sandy Park club are confident going into the match, against a very much in form Waps side, particularly after...
