Simmonds 'honoured' to receive MBE
By Mark Stevens
31/12/20
In what has been a year to remember for Exeter Chiefs star Joe Simmonds, it seems his best achievement was saved until last after he picked up an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Alongside Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, who himself was awarded an OBE, Simmonds was heralded the pride of Devon on Wednesday evening after he helped guide the Chiefs to both English and European glory this year.
It caps what has been a remarkable 12 months for the 24-year-old, who was the on-field captain for both of Exeter’s two final victories over Racing 92 and Wasps respectively.
“I’m really happy and it’s a huge honour to receive it [the MBE],” said Simmonds. “It’s an incredibly proud moment for me and my family and, I’ll be honest, I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.”
Indeed, the honour came as a real shock for the young playmaker, who initially thought he may have been the victim of an elaborate hoax from his team-mates.
“I thought it was a wind-up to start with,” he explained. “I had an email come through in mid-November and I pushed it to one side. I then had another one in December, which said it was urgent, and that’s when I really read through it. At first, I thought it was someone taking the mick, but the more I read I realised it was real and now we’re here talking about it all.”
As always, Simmonds remains humble in his assessment of the achievement, adding: “When I got the email, I thought ‘Why me?’
“It has been an incredibly tough year for all of us, yet I’ve been lucky to be playing rugby and captaining the side for two finals. Without the effort of the whole squad - and I mean the whole 60,70 players - we would not have achieved what we did. In a way, I find it a bit unfair that I am the only one getting something, because I feel the whole team deserve this.”
With older brother Sam at the forefront of Exeter’s double success, Simmonds acknowledges it was tough to keep the news from his sibling and that of his team-mates.
“I haven’t really said much to Sam and none of the boys know about it,” he continued. “Once they do, I’m expecting them to get stuck into me. The banter is sure to be flying about, so I’ll have to get used to that.”
As Simmonds rightly points out, it has been a challenging 12 months for people across the world, but he feels the success of Exeter in 2020 has helped to bring some real comfort and cheer to those who have been suffering.
“Without doubt it’s been such a tough year for everyone,” he said. “But I think for us as a club, the supporters, what we have achieved has really lifted us and was just what we needed. Of course, we do what we do for ourselves and our families, but equally we do it for the fans, the city and the region. What we achieved was amazing and, hopefully, moving into next year, we can use that success to drive us on again.”