By Mark Stevens
9/9/22
When it comes to standing out in a crowd, Exeter Chiefs newcomer Jack Dunne need not worry too much.
Standing at 6ft 8ins tall, the Irishman is certainly bigger than most.
This weekend, however, he will be looking to make his first big strides into the Gallagher Premiership, locking horns with the defending champions, Leicester Tigers, in what should be a mouth-watering opening day fixture at Sandy Park.
The 23-year-old is one of six new recruits brought to Devon this summer by Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, who was keen to bolster his ranks following a plethora of departures at the end of last season.
For Dunne, it will be his first taste of rugby away from Dublin, having come through the ranks at Leinster. It’s a challenge, though, the towering forward is clearing relishing.
“I grew up supporting Leinster and for the last four years I’ve played there, so it’s been a big part of my life,” he says. “That said, I felt I needed a change and that’s why I’ve come to the Chiefs.
“Having been here only a few months, I can see it’s a special club and the group of players we have are very together. Not only doing they enjoy working hard, but they play hard as well – and that’s a great mix to have moving forward.”
Within days of his arrival at Sandy Park, Dunne knew his new club would offer a fresh outlook on rugby life.
“They didn’t have too many Marines over in Dublin,” he joked. “Training with them, it was just mad – probably one of the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. The benefits, though, are just incredible because it shows you can go to pretty dark places and still come out on the other side.”
Now, Dunne and his fellow Chiefs are hoping to put that hard work into practice, starting with the visit of the champions.
“I think all of us are chomping at the bit to get started,” he said. “We’ve worked hard in pre-season, but there’s no point doing that if you then don’t follow it up afterwards. This will be my first taste of the Premiership, but I can’t wait to get started.
“The challenge you can see is there every week and this will certainly be a baptism of fire first game up. As a player, though, you want to be involved in the big games and this is where it really starts for me and the team.”
