Summer success gives squad real belief

Exeter Chiefs youngster Rob Coote believes the new-found confidence of five team-mates who won the IRB Junior World Championship with England Under-20s over the summer is rubbing off on the rest of the team.

Coote revealed the Chiefs contingent who won the tournament in France - forwards Luke Cowan-Dickie and Joel Conlon, plus backs Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade - have returned buoyed following their success on the national stage.

?Some of those may now be a part of the season-opening JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens series - a competition in which Coote himself is likely to feature given his previous experience.

Whether they do or not, the 20-year-old scrum-half hopes the quintet's exploits will give Rob Baxter's men the belief to go on and achieve their this season.

"The boys who have come back from England duty - we don't know if they will be playing in it, but they are all back in pre-season training now," said Coote, who spent part of last season with Championship outfit Cornish Pirates.

"What they achieved was really good and it is good to have them back with us. They are all looking very confident and I definitely think it can have a positive effect on us all. They did so well at the world cup and they have all brought that confidence back into the club.

"I think winning things can help you go on and win more. Confidence obviously helps a lot when it comes to rugby and they will go forward and use that.

"We haven't been told what team will be picked for the sevens yet, and have been given no clues, but I played in 2010 and in 2011 so there is probably a good chance I will be in the squad - I hope so.

"I think it is a competition in which we have always got a chance of doing well - the sevens game can go so many different ways because it is so open - and I would love to be a part of it."

Truro-born Coote, who is studying at the University of Exeter, is anticipating a tough challenge when Group A of the JP Morgan Premiership Rugby Sevens kicks-off at Gloucester's Kingsholm on Thursday, August 1.

The Chiefs will join the hosts and both Worcester Warriors and Bath Rugby for the right to reach the final at The Recreation Ground on August 9.

If selected, Coote says he will draw upon the experience of failing to get out of their group against the same opposition last year – something from which he says he has learned.

"Last year as a team we did quite well as we had a team that was a lot younger than many of the others who had a lot of senior guys," he said.

"We beat Worcester but Bath had a lot of senior players like Matt Banahan which made it tough, and Gloucester beat us too - but we will get them this time.

"It is good when you get to go up against some of the senior guys though. I enjoyed it and you test yourself. It will be good to get another chance against them and hopefully take Bath this year and push on against Gloucester."

The JP Morgan Premiership Rugby Sevens kicks-off on August 1 at Kingsholm with rounds at Franklin's Gardens and Allianz Park and the final at Bath's Recreation Ground. For tickets and more information visit: www.jpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7s