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'There is still lots to achieve,' says Dennis as he sorts out his Premiership future
Dave Dennis’ successful stint in England will continue after the 2014 Super Rugby-winning captain agreed a two-year contract extension with Premiership leaders Exeter.
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The Australian, who inspired the Waratahs to glory five years ago in a season where he agonisingly missed the final due to a knee reconstruction, has played a significant role in helping the Chiefs become an English powerhouse.
He capped his first season in Devon by helping the club to become Premiership champions for the first time, defeating Wasps after extra-time at Twickenham. He was on the winners’ podium again last season, featuring in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final win over Bath at Kingsholm.
Now, the 33-year-old says he is targeting yet more success with the Chiefs, who have their sights set on reaching a fourth successive Premiership decider in a few months.
“Whenever you play, you want to be part of a successful team,” said Dennis. “I’ve been lucky to have had some success already with the club, but there is still lots we want to achieve over these next few years.
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“Winning the title that first season was obviously pretty special, but what I’ve appreciated since is the way we have just continued to keep chasing things.
“This is my third season at the club, but our focus and our goals have not changed at all. All the time we’re striving hard as a group to get better and do well in every competition we enter.”
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Although injuries hampered much of Dennis’ second season with the Chiefs, the 18-cap Wallaby returned to full fitness this season and has underlined his worth to Rob Baxter’s plans with some hard-hitting displays.
?- @ExeterChiefs & @qantaswallabies star @davedennis671, plus Director of Rugby Rob Baxter, talk about new two-year deal for @premrugby star pic.twitter.com/EJFzfMybkQ
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) March 15, 2019
Dennis is glad that form has helped secure his immediate future. “It’s always nice to get your future sorted out. Playing professional rugby is a great lifestyle and it’s an opportunity to see a bit of the world, but there is always that little bit of uncertainty about what happens next when contracts are up for renewal.
“I know I’m not getting any younger, but at the end of the day it’s nice to put everything to bed and know that I’ll be here for a couple more seasons.”
Not that Dennis believes his extended deal will mean an easy ride in either the Premiership or future Champions Cup tournaments.
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“I have a huge amount of respect for both competitions,” he said. “The Champions Cup is globally accepted as being the ultimate club competition in the world. At the same time, the Premiership gets harder and harder each year.
“Even my first year here, I was surprised just how tough it was. The teams are getting better, the physicality is always there, the skills levels are very high, and you can see that players from all four corners want to come here and play, so that’s a fair reflection of how respected the competition is.
“Chiefs is a fantastic club, a great set-up to be part of. These first three years have just flown by, but all of us want to keep kicking on achieve things.
“As a player, that’s the culture you want to be in and it’s where I play my best rugby. That in the end was what swayed me in my decision to stay here.”
Dennis is the latest in a number of the current Chiefs squad to re-commit to a club that will be adding some new faces for next season. Scotland and Lions full-back Stuart Hogg is the first confirmed arrival, with others expected to be confirmed soon.
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments