Sestaret out to make his mark

Nic Sestaret admits he is relishing the opportunity to use the LV= Cup to get back into first-team contention for Exeter Chiefs this season.
The 30-year-old wing is yet to make an Aviva Premiership appearance for the Chiefs so far this season, but is set to start against London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday (4pm).

The LV= Cup is an opportunity for fringe and young players to make an impression and, despite not featuring so far this season, the Frenchman will be one of the more experienced heads for the Chiefs during the cup campaign.

Sestaret played 13 Aviva Premiership games last season and he is determined to put himself in a position to emulate that this season by giving a good account of himself against Welsh and Ospreys.

"For me it has been a long time for me I've been playing for the first team so it's a good opportunity to play and show what I can do," he said. "Opportunities in rugby are always limited so you have to make the best of them when they arrive.

"It's about how you can play on the pitch. If you play well you will get a chance to be selected for the first team. I have done everything I need to do to get ready, now I just need to rest up and get prepared for Sunday and then everything should come together."

As with most sides in the competition, Exeter will turn to youth for most of the competition - which now has the added bonus of a guaranteed Heineken Cup place for the winner.

And the opportunity to help the Chiefs secure a place in Europe's elite rugby competition alongside Exeter's budding young talent is one Sestaret admits he is relishing.

"Obviously it is very hard to get into the Heineken Cup in the Premiership because it is so competitive so to have that from the LV= Cup is a bonus for sure," he said. "It is unbelievable how much talent we have here in the academy, I think they are the future and it's healthy for the club to see how they are progressing.

"It's a very good mix between young and old in our team and I think that will work well, we have lots of energy and be fresh which we can balance with experience good communication."