Yeandle embarks on eleventh season as club captain

Jack Yeandle began his 11th season as Exeter Chiefs club captain as he led the team out at Bath.

Yeandle, the Chiefs fan who grew up to become a player, first took on the captain’s role when Dean Mumm departed English shores in 2015 and he has carried the mantel ever since.

Yeandle said: “I originally probably thought I’d last about 11 days! It’s flown by though.

“There’s been plenty of highs along the way and a lot of lows to go alongside them, but it’s been a great collection of years. I’ve been part of some different teams and that’s been a lot of fun, so hopefully that can continue this season.”

It wasn’t always plain sailing for the hooker when he took charge. There were many experienced players around him who could have been selected for the honour but that core leadership group has been key to his success.

Yeandle said: “It was massively nerve wracking! Mainly because no one wanted to listen to me. There was just a lot of experienced heads, a lot of senior players with very big voices in the changing room and they definitely voiced a few opinions when I was named captain.

“I’d like to think I’ve justified my selection. Maybe I haven’t in a few people’s view, but there’s always been a core group of senior players around me who have helped me.

“The duty has often been shared among other captains. Whether that is Dafydd [Jenkins] or Ethan [Roots] now, or going back to Joe [Simmonds], Nowellsy [Jack Nowell], Dickie [Luke Cowan-Dickie], Don Armand or Steeno [Gareth Steenson], there’s been a lot of senior players who have taken on the shared responsibility.

“It allowed us to voice opinions to one another and help one another out to lead this team.”

Handed his debut in November 2012, Yeandle has been an integral part of the Chiefs’ journey from a small, over-achieving south-west club to champions of Europe. Does he have any favourite moments?

Yeandle said: “Getting to lift trophies is pretty cool. The first one in 2017 was incredibly special, to have the whole stadium cheering for us. No matter what, it will always be in the history books that me and Steeno lifted Chiefs’ first Premiership trophy.

“Europe in 2020 was unbelievable though but it missed that extra specialness of having our friends and family around.

“There are also the little bits. When we beat Clermont here at Sandy Park it was just after Ava [Yeandle’s eldest daughter] was born in December 2015 and I was so sleep-deprived having experienced that first week of having a newborn child, then we came out here and put on an amazing performance to beat them. It sits special in the memories.”

Another extra special new memory was added to the story last weekend. As Yeandle led the team out at Bath, fellow Crediton-born hooker Louie Gulley captained a Chiefs XV for the first time in Coventry.

Yeandle joked: “This should be front page news of the Crediton Courier! Two Crediton lads, who’d have thought?

“In all seriousness, Louie’s one of those people who will go out and lead with his actions; he’s a very energetic player. His work-rate and his involvement in games is what has put him above others and put him in the mix for a captaincy.

“He’s a smart cookie, so he definitely will have the right words to say at the right time.”