Jimmy Roots: "I just love it here."

When you first hear it, you question if you’re listening to a home crowd boo one of their own players. Then it becomes clear and you know one of two brothers has appeared as ‘Roooooooots’ rings around Sandy Park.

The youngest of the pair, 26-year-old tighthead prop Jimmy, last week followed in elder brother Ethan’s footsteps in agreeing a new deal with Chiefs.

He said: “I just love it here. The group we have, how we’ve managed to turn things around, is pretty exciting to be a part of. My first year here, even though we were struggling, I was still living my dream at the highest level of the sport so to be able to be successful has been an eye-opener. I want to continue being a part of that.

“The group of boys here are class, I get to be close to my brother and spend lots of time with my family, so it was really a no-brainer when we spoke about extending my contract. This is the place for me.”

There is no mistaking that the Chiefs supporters have truly taken Roots under their wing. He has become somewhat of a cult figure for them, his down-to-earth personality helping to create a warmth between player and fans.

Roots said: “I can’t say I saw it happening, the fans taking to me the way they have. Since I arrived here, I’ve just been myself. I’ve run around, doing what I do and just enjoying myself.

“Hopefully that’s why they’re fans of me, because they get what they see. I go hard and win or lose, I’ve got a smile on my face. I’m happy to see them and the experience is quite cool.

“I only really realised it the other week. It was in our Bath game, I was announced onto the field, and you could hear a pause just after my name then a ‘Roooooots’ ring round the stadium. It’s sick!”

The former Junior All Blacks prop has also been taken to by the playing squad. Described by Rob Baxter as a “real energy giver”, Roots has flourished in a strong playing environment this season. What has the culture been like to be a part of?

He said: “Last year probably aids how close we’ve become this year. A little suffering always brings people closer together. We worked really hard in pre-season to really push the connectivity of the group and I think it’s flourished. I don’t think there’s anyone new who has come in that’s not felt welcomed straight away, which speaks volumes about the place.

“That’s a major reason why I wanted to stay. We spend every day with each other, long days, and yet I’m still thinking about going to do things with the boys after training, whether that’s recovery or a game of darts. Like, I’ve just spent nine hours with you, but I’ll still happily spend another two with you after work!

“We’re just so tight. Everyone wants to be in each other’s company, and we don’t want to let each other down, that’s probably why we’ve been more successful this season.”

In the front row and at tighthead specifically, the success Roots speaks of has been shared between himself, Bachuki Thumbadze and Josh Iosefa-Scott. Though with Ehren Painter due to return to full fitness in the coming weeks, the depth in the position becomes even more impressive.

Roots said: “They’ve been really good to be around. Our group is really tight, and everyone is really comfortable with helping each other out. Nobody is worried about someone taking their spot, we’re all just trying to bring out the best in one another.

“That’s all you can really do. The more competitive we can get as a group, and as a group of tightheads especially, the better we all train, then the better we all become as players.

“The whole group is like that at the moment. There’s a real steel sharpens steel buzz in the squad. Everyone is pushing, everyone wants to be a part of what we’re doing. I think it’s infectious because it makes you want to be better and pushes you to take those playing spots. It drives the competitive edge in everyone.”

One thing is abundantly clear speaking to Roots and that is that he’s not just found a home at Sandy Park, but one in Devon as well.

He said: “I grew up in New Zealand, so beaches are a place that I’d spend a lot of time, just being around the water. It’s really nice to have that similarity here. It’s obviously not New Zealand! But the beaches here are class and it’s nice to be able to go there to unwind and have a little taste of home.

“The people here are lovely as well, everyone is rooting for you no matter what the result was. So, when you see that out in public, it adds a nice little touch.”

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