Wilson stepping across the rivalry’s divide

It’s not quite a switching United for City scenario, but a former Saracens man becoming an Exeter Chief certainly isn’t the norm. Harry Wilson is glad to have bucked the trend, however, as he immerses himself in the nitty gritty of a Devon pre-season.

The second and back-rower’s services were acquired for Chiefs in February and after 27 appearances for the long-time Gallagher PREM rivals, he made the move to Devon in July.

Wilson grinned as he said: “I think going from Sarries to Chiefs is different. Not many people make that transition, but I’m extremely happy that I have. I’m loving being here, loving being by the coast, being around the boys and being a part of this team. I can’t wait to get started on the season.”

Chiefs' pre-seasons are notoriously tough. Long days at Sandy Park, the hot weather often adding to the players’ trials, or gruelling workouts in the gym beneath the main stand. Then, just when you think you’re home free, the squad are shepherded down to the beach for a last confronting session of the day.

He said: “Thankfully, I had had some insight into what to expect, I had a few prior warnings, so I knew a little of what was to come. When I got here and we kicked off day one with an early morning cardio session, I was fully into the fire.

“It was going to be hard: it was going to be brutal. It really has been. We’ve had a short amount of time, but we’ve ran, we’ve worked hard, in the gym and on field.

“I think when times get tough though, boys like [Jack] Yeandle or Rootsy, both of them [Ethan and Jimmy Roots], or lads like Tom Cairns and Will Haydon-Wood are in your ear pushing you, making sure standards are well upheld.”

It hasn’t been too much of a shock to the system for the 29-year-old. In his Champ Rugby days with Doncaster Knights, he played every single minute of their 2023/24 campaign, on his way to a Players’ Player of the Season award.

While he’s well-mannered and engaging off a pitch, he jokes that once the scrum cap goes on, he’ll be able to hold his own with the other slightly gnarly characters in the Chiefs scrum.

Wilson explained: “I’d say my point of difference is that this is a physical team, and I think I’ll add to that. My physical and abrasive nature is part of me. I love that side of the game. I like the niggle, the dog of the game and those small parts of being on the pitch.

“I think potentially, fitting into this Chiefs system, I can add things from a leadership or physical point of view and also just from a game sense angle.”

The games are approaching thick and fast. The Gallagher Prem kicks off in just five short weeks, with Chiefs getting their campaign off to a start with a feisty home encounter against the cherry and whites. For Chiefs’ nine summer signings, it poses the first chance to compete for a starting shirt in the league.

Wilson said: “I can’t wait. Even though pre-season has been short and sharp, I think it’s made us more excited for that first one against Scarlets at home. Then building into that first Prem game with Gloucester at home, to open the season I think has everyone looking at that date and wanting to be involved.

“It’s going to be great getting to run out at Sandy Park. When I came here with Saracens for the final game of last season, it was absolutely rocking. It was loud, with everyone enjoying themselves and they got behind the Chiefs big time. I can’t wait to experience that from this side.”