Welshman overlooked by regions ready to shed more blood for Exeter Chiefs
Overlooked by the Welsh regional system, Exeter Chiefs back-five forward Sean Lonsdale joins a growing list of current Sandy Park stars to put pen to paper on new terms with the current Gallagher Premiership leaders. Signed in 2016 from Welsh outfit, RGC 1404, the 22-year-old enjoyed loan spells with Taunton and Plymouth Albion before making his Chiefs debut in an Anglo-Welsh Cup tie away to Worcester Warriors in January 2018.
Since then, Lonsdale has 31 appearances for the Devon club, scoring three tries in the process.
News that the talented young forward is hanging about is another huge positive for Baxter, the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby, who has now got the majority of this season’s squad all on board for the 2020/21 campaign.
“Sean is one of those stories you really like, rugby-wise,” said Baxter. “He kind of came as an academy player, although he didn’t actually come through our academy. He took a chance by leaving Wales and investing in that change of rugby environment.
“He came to us and bought into what we wanted to do, almost as an academy player. He’s done his time, so to speak, and has comes through a revered time and played in some big games for us.
“He’s still young, getting involved in games now, and he’s got that ability to play right across the back five, which has made him a really valuable member of the 23 on numerous occasions. It’s one of those things you like to talk about as a success story, in a way, as a young player who has come here and worked hard and is reaping the rewards almost week by week.
“He’s never let us down and he’s improving all the time. As well as all the important games he’s played in, myself and Rob Hunter [forwards coach] can still see that good element of development in him.
With competition for a role with the Chiefs match-day 23 always intense, Lonsdale is aware he may need to bide his time on occasions. However, Baxter says the player – often referred to as a ‘silent assassin’ by the club’s coaching staff – can continue to make real strides moving forward.
Indeed, Baxter believes Lonsdale can act as the perfect role model for how far a young player can potentially go, providing they are willing to listen, train hard and make the most of opportunities afforded to them.
“When you look at young players, they can make it easy for you to invest in them and that’s what Sean did,” continued Baxter. “He wasn’t expecting the world initially, he knew the first period of being a young player is to invest in yourself and sometimes that means being like an academy player for a couple of years, understanding that you’ve got some hard work to do and some experience to gain.
“That’s what I think Sean has done really well – and he’s continually shown that level of improvement which means it is worth continually investing in someone.
“That’s why I like to turn a lot of the credit to the players, because some can make it hard. They want the world immediately – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but these days, particularly in professional sport, you’ve got to have a decent bit of time investing in yourself.
“If I’m honest, I think Sean is only really becoming comfortable in the surroundings of the first team now, and that will show over time, he will become more influential and a more important player over time. He’s one of those players where you get to the end of a game and you watch his play back and see a lot of good things happen.
“You want to be in a scenario where you’re working with young players and they’re good enough to play for you, but you can still see improvements coming, and that’s where we are with Sean.”
Comments on RugbyPass
that backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
24 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
24 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
24 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
24 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
24 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
24 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to comments