Joe Simmonds

The young fly-half emerged onto the big stage during the 2016/17 season, making his Exeter Chiefs debut in an Anglo-Welsh Cup tie at Harlequins.

Despite his early introduction that evening following an injury to fellow playmaker Will Hooley, Simmonds - the younger of the two brothers at Sandy Park - quickly settled into his role with effortless ease.

Having started the season on dual-registered terms at National League One club Plymouth Albion, he would end the year having helped the Chiefs to reach not only the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final, but also the Aviva Premiership Final.

Despite his tender years, his cool decision-making and nerveless goal-kicking saw him thrust firmly into the Chiefs spotlight during the course of the season, featuring prominently in the Premiership and Champions Cup when regular custodian Gareth Steenson picked up a hamstring injury.

Over time, however, his on-field influence started to grow and with Steenson on hand to offer a helping hand, it wasn't long before he over took the Irishman as the club's lead playmaker.

Indeed, such was his growing influence within the side that in January 2020, Director of Rugby Rob Baxter made Simmonds captain for the Champions Cup trip to Glasgow Warriors. By the end of the disrupted season, he would not only lead the Chiefs into two major finals against Racing 92 and Wasps, but he would lift both cups alongside club captain Jack Yeandle.

That double triumph was rewarded on an even higher scale when he was given an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Like his older brother Sam, Simmonds has come through the club's academy system at Ivybridge Community College - and he's previously represented England at age group level, including the Under-20s in the Six Nations Championship.