Player interview: Josh Iosefa-Scott
Published on: 02/11/2026
It was a proud moment for player and club a fortnight ago as tighthead prop Josh Iosefa-Scott took his place at the front of the Exeter Chiefs line beneath the prestigious Investec Champions Cup archway, shoulder to shoulder with Stade Toulousain opposition, to run out as a Chiefs player for the 100th time.
A thunderous chorus of “Let’s go Joshy!” sounded as clear as day over the deafening noise of the Stadium de Toulouse pre-match build-up as Iosefa-Scott’s teammates readied to cheer him onto the field. The prop himself, however, looked as cool, calm and collected as ever.
Iosefa-Scott tried to summarise the emotions that hit him when director of rugby Rob Baxter announced his selection for the opening round of this season’s European competition.
He said: “I felt really proud. It’s a big achievement but it’s not just for me, it’s an achievement for my family. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes in getting to that mark. There was a sense of pride in terms of recognising a lot of hard work that went into it, but not just on the rugby field.
“The marker of getting to 100 games can all be traced back to the original move of coming over here, not really knowing what I could achieve. It’s probably not something I thought I was going to achieve at one point, so I’m very proud.”
What Iosefa-Scott didn’t know was that at the start of the season, it was his teammates who first enquired about how close the 6ft 4ins prop was to the milestone. An imposing figure on field, he is a firm favourite with his teammates. What is it like to have that kind of support from the men you take the field with?
He nodded: “It’s awesome. When they announced the selection in the team meeting, I told them all that it’s an unreal experience. One hundred games have passed but I still get to run out with some of my best mates. I don’t think there’s many better feelings.
“And to get to do it in front of a packed crowd in Toulouse was pretty amazing. We didn’t get the result, but it doesn’t take away from getting to play 100 games for Chiefs.”
The 30-year-old has come a long way from the somewhat green prop who made his debut against Northampton Saints in the Gallagher PREM in September 2021 at Sandy Park. He was up against the more established Alex Waller as he came off the bench that day against future Chiefs teammate, Ehren Painter. Could he have foreseen his rise to regular Chiefs starter and PREM finalist?
He chuckled: “No. No, it wasn’t something I foresaw. I was just taking every moment as it came at that time. I came over here on a bit of a whim, it was an opportunity type of contract. So, I was focusing on each game as it came and just hoping for the best really.”
There is a wealth of talent surrounding Iosefa-Scott in the Chiefs pack. The Exeter side have had a long history of eye-catching forwards, be that with professional flair on the field or engaging personalities off it. What is it like to be part of a team that so values the work of its pack?
He said: “It’s great to play with them. Rob has made it clear that he wants everyone to be their own individual, to let their personalities show among the team. We’re all definitely very different but when we’re playing on the field, we’re all trying to do it for each other. I think that’s what brings us together the most. We all have our sights set on trying to achieve good things for the club, chasing trophies so I think that all helps to align us.”
While they may be a cohesive unit in games, the pack still remain fiercely competitive with one another. After all, for props, there are only four selected each week for the two specialised anchors of the scrum. Does that breed an opportunity for the likes of Iosefa-Scott to be in a constant state of learning from both his environment and his teammates?
He agreed: “Definitely. I think in the tightheads especially, it’s very competitive. Each and every one of us tightheads could step in and fill that role and do very well. We all have our different skillsets but also being challenged each week by one another is the driver to push harder. There’s always someone barking at the door ready to take your jersey, so you’ve got to be on your toes. That definitely pushes you to be as good as you possibly can.”
The set-piece was certainly a shining light in recent performances. The Chiefs pack has a 96.4% scrum win rate in the league already this season. A well-drilled unit, led by forwards coach Ross McMillan and his assistant Glen Townson, it is a point of pride for the likes of Iosefa-Scott when they can get dominance over their direct opposition at set-piece.
He said: “You always get fired up for set-piece, and as a front row you always want to do well, particularly at scrum time. At the end of the day, it all looks like it falls on you but it’s never just the front row, it’s always an eight-man job. No matter the eight lads we have on the field, they all want to do well come scrum time, which makes our jobs so much easier.
“Not just that, it’s also the guys who don’t get to pull on the match shirt that set us up so well during the week, challenging us in our Tuesday sessions and helping to make them as competitive as they can.”
Last week’s training week has been a bruising one for Chiefs as they looked to manage injury concerns and turn the tide from a disappointing result at Bristol. against Harelquins.
He explained: “It was hard to come away from the Bristol game, having been dominant forwards-wise, to not get the result. You can tell everyone in this group wants to win. I think it’s just about us all being more clinical when it comes to the little moments. You never know which moment is going to be the one that’ll win you the game. We’ve just got to make the most of each opportunity we have and execute with more precision.”
This interview featured in Exeter Chiefs Men’s matchday programme on Saturday. Read the entire Halloween edition here.
Written By:
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club
