Sky's the limit, insists Steenson

By Andrew Lawton
27/5/2016

Fly-half Gareth Steenson believes Exeter Chiefs' first appearance at the Aviva Premiership Rugby final is just the start for a club which is destined for great things.

The Chiefs face Saracens on Saturday at Twickenham after beating Wasps 34-23 at Sandy Park last weekend, with Steenson successfully kicking four conversions and two penalties.

Saturday will be the fourth time Exeter have competed in a Twickenham final, having lost all of their previous matches - but they did get a taste of major trophy success in 2014 when they won the LV= Cup.

And the No. 10 believes there's more to come from the club which was only promoted to the Aviva Premiership Rugby in 2010.

"The sky's the limit in my opinion, this is a hot bed for rugby down and around Devon," he said. "There are many things the team can achieve, even if we come out on top at the weekend, it won't stop there as there are many more things the club wants to do.

"This is just another moment in what's been a fantastic journey for the club, but we always want to talk about being better and better every year.

"We were pretty confident at the start of the year we could make the top four and when we got the opportunity of a home semi-final you give yourself a chance - because we have a great record here - to get that result that gets you into a final.

"It's a final at the end of the day on a neutral ground, so it's whichever team shows up and gets a result."

Steenson kicked six penalties and two drop-goals when Exeter beat Bristol Rugby at the Memorial Stadium six years ago to book their place in the Aviva Premiership, with the score over the two legs 38-16.

The club has continued to grow and develop since then, but must beat recently crowned European Rugby Champions Cup winners Saracens if they are to lift the trophy on Saturday.

The Exeter fly-half admits there are no other club the squad would rather be playing at the showpiece final at the home of English rugby.

He added: "It's been a fantastic season for Saracens, and it's great for an English team to win the European Cup. It's a tremendous effort from them and to finish top of the pile, to be honest that's the team you want to be playing.

"You want to be playing against the team regarded as the best side in the country. They are a tough side and they have done the double over us this year but we did the double over them last year so we will go in defiant mood.

"We are not going there for a day out we are going to put in the best performance possible."