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BAMbassadors
Haydn Thomas and Matt Jess,
Exeter Chiefs
We also asked two of our current crop of BAMbassadors for
their views on the world cup and the season ahead.
Tell us a bit about your journey in
rugby and the highlights?
HT: I've been a professional rugby player for nearly
15 years and I'm going into my 9th season with the
Chiefs. The highlights have been winning promotion
into the Premiership with Exeter, winning the LV Cup
with Exeter and representing England against the
Barbarians at Twickenham.
MJ: I am 31 years old, born in Coventry and moved
to Penzance at the age of three. I have been a
professional rugby player for 14 years, starting at
Penzance and Newlyn, Newport Gwent Dragons,
Launceston and currently Exeter Chiefs. I have toured
Canada, Argentina and Uruguay with the England
Counties. I have been with the Chiefs for eight
seasons playing in the Premiership for six years. My
best highlights are winning promotion to the
Premiership with Exeter in 2009/10 season and also
winning the LV cup with the Chiefs in 2013/14.
How excited are you about this
world cup on home soil?
HT: It's pretty exciting to have the RWC in England
but even more so that there have been games in
Exeter. It's a big rugby city and was great to see
Exeter on the world stage.
MJ: I think it's very exciting for the whole country
with the World Cup and Exeter as a city because we
staged a few games down here. There was a huge
buzz and it was going rugby crazy.
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Who are you tipping to win?
HT: It’s a tough call obviously I was rooting for England
all the way. I have always had the feeling and fear that
Australia are going to have a good RWC 2015.
MJ: New Zealand.
Player to watch (emerging talent)?
HT: Henry Slade showed his class and all round ability
in the last England match. He was exceptional in his
first cap and showed that he's got a lot more to give. He
has the all round game and it's
hard to see a weakness. He showed in the final match
against Uruguay that he can really set the England
back line alight if given the chance.
MJ: Henry Slade. Obviously not biased!
The season ahead for you? Goals
and challenges?
HT: It would be great for Exeter to improve on last
year’s great season. That would mean a place in the
top four and a shot at the play offs. We are also back
in the top European tournament, to get out of our
group, something we've never done, would also be
another milestone for the club.
MJ: My goals and challenges personally are to stay
injury free as we have a hard year with non-stop
games due to the World Cup, to play regularly and
push for top four.