WHEN SAM SKINNER bade farewell to Exeter Chiefs in the summer, he spoke with the passion and eloquence of a man who had the place very firmly in his heart. He talked of how he supported the club from their old County Ground days, before their move to Sandy Park; he said he got to meet his heroes along the way and walk in their footsteps; he recalled the domestic and European double he won in 2020 and said the Chiefs had made his dreams come true.
If you only caught a fraction of what he said, you’d still have known that it was a wrench to leave. If you listen to him now, a tenant in Glasgow player Simon Berghan’s flat, you’d also know that he’s not wistful about everything he left behind. Grateful, yes, but there’s a practicality about Skinner that stands out. Different club, different city, different country, but a great challenge all the same. From top dog in the Premiership to underdog in the United Rugby Championship. He
