Joe Simmonds

Joe Simmonds
Simmonds playing for Exeter, November 2018
Birth nameJoe Simmonds
Date of birth (1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birthTorquay, England
Height6 ft (183 cm)
Weight191 lb (87 kg)
SchoolIvybridge Community College
Notable relative(s)Sam Simmonds (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly half, Full back
Current team Pau
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2023 Exeter Chiefs 170 (1,114)
2015–2016 → Taunton 10 (20)
2016–2017 → Plymouth Albion 10 (21)
2023– Pau 32 (351)
Correct as of 2 November 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 England U20 2 (6)
Correct as of 17 July 2019

Joe Simmonds MBE (born 19 December 1996[1]) is an English rugby union player for Top 14 side Section Paloise. He plays as a fly-half and was the first team captain of Exeter Chiefs before joining Pau.

Early life

Simmonds grew up in Teignmouth, Devon, where his father and uncle are both in the fishing industry.

His elder brother is Sam Simmonds.[2] In their youth, both attended the Rugby Academy at Ivybridge Community College.[3]

Rugby playing career

Simmonds 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, which had been 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.

In May 2023, it was confirmed Simmonds was signing for the French side, Pau, after the implementation of new financial restrictions in the Premiership resulted in a number of players leaving Exeter Chiefs.[11]

Honours

Heineken Champions Cup Winners: 2019-20

Premiership Rugby Winners: 2019-20

Runners-up: 2018-19, 2017–18

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Winners 2017–18

Runner-Up 2016–17

References

  1. ^ "Joe Simmonds". ESPN. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Sam & Joe Simmonds: Exeter Chiefs brothers 'push each other'". BBC Sport. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Exeter Chiefs Player List". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Joe Simmonds: Exeter fly-half hailed after impressive debut against Saracens". BBC Sport. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup: Exeter Chiefs 20-17 Newcastle Falcons". BBC Sport. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Bath 11-28 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. 29 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Exeter 12-16 Leicester". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ "Captain Joe to lead Chiefs". Radio Exe. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ McLaughlin, Luke (17 October 2020). "Exeter 31-27 Racing 92: European Champions Cup final – live!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b Heineken Champions Cup [@ChampionsCup] (17 October 2020). "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 👉 https://t.co/ZD6JoTX8FD https://t.co/WrU42xM2LF" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 January 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Pau confirm signing of Exeter fly-half Simmonds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2023.


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