Joe Simmonds
Joe Simmonds MBE (born 19 December 1996[1]) is an English rugby union player for Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs. He plays as a fly-half and is the first team captain. He is the younger brother of England rugby union international Sam Simmonds.[2] In their youth, both attended the Rugby Academy at Ivybridge Community College.[3]
Birth name | Joe Simmonds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 19 December 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Torquay, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 191 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Sam Simmonds (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He made his full debut for Exeter on 4 March 2018 against Saracens and was named man of the match.[4]
The following week he kicked the winning penalty as Exeter beat the Newcastle Falcons to advance to the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.[5]
In the final, rearranged to March 30 due to snow, Simmonds kicked 13 points as the Chiefs won the cup 28–11 against Bath Rugby.[6] The previous season he had played in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final but Exeter lost to Leicester Tigers on that occasion.[7]
Simmonds was made captain of Exeter Chiefs in the European Rugby Champions Cup when Exeter played Glasgow Warriors in round five of the Cup in January 2020.[8] Jack Yeandle remained the club captain.
Simmonds led Exeter on the pitch in the delayed final of the 2020 Champions Cup.[9] Simmonds is the youngest player to captain a side to victory in the final of the European Cup.[10] He also won 'Star of the Match' for his performance in that game,[10] and kicked 5 successful kicks out of 5 attempts. He was top points scorer in the 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Simmonds was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to rugby union football.[11][12]
Honours
Heineken Champions Cup Winners: 2019-20
Premiership Rugby Winners: 2019-20
Runners-up: 2018-19, 2017-18
Winners 2017–18
Runner-Up 2016–17
References
- "Joe Simmonds". ESPN. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "Sam & Joe Simmonds: Exeter Chiefs brothers 'push each other'". BBC Sport. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/joe-simmonds. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - "Joe Simmonds: Exeter fly-half hailed after impressive debut against Saracens". BBC Sport. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Anglo-Welsh Cup: Exeter Chiefs 20-17 Newcastle Falcons". BBC Sport. 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/43582927
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39292142
- "Captain Joe to lead Chiefs". Radio Exe. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
- McLaughlin, Luke (2020-10-17). "Exeter 31-27 Racing 92: European Champions Cup final – live!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
- Heineken Champions Cup [@ChampionsCup] (2020-10-17). "As the youngest ever captain to lead his troops to European glory, @joesimmo10is the @HeinekenStar of the Match 🌟 How impressive was the 23-year-old fly-half today? Here's how @ExeterChiefswon the #HeinekenChampionsCup 👉 t.co/ZD6JoTX8FD t.co/WrU42xM2LF" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-01-03 – via Twitter.
- "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N23.
- "Hamilton knighted in New Year Honours". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-30.