Record points-scorer Gareth Steenson extends Chiefs contract

New deal keeps fly-half at Sandy Park till 2020

Gareth Steenson is the first of a number of frontline Exeter Chiefs stars to put pen to paper on a new deal.

The hugely influential Ulsterman, who's scored 2,331 points in all competitions for the Premiership champions, will now stay at the club until at least the end of the 2019/20 season. He says he's delighted. "To sign the new deal is very exciting for both me and my family. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the squad over the years and I’ve seen the place develop hugely to the position we are in now.

“Moving forward, I can only see the club going from strength to strength and I am delighted to be part that. I view Exeter as my club and I have done so for many years."

Steenson's consolidated his number 10 position this year after a number of other rising stars came in to challenge for his shirt. He's pragmatic about that. “Of course it makes me better, but it also makes the squad better,” he says. “We have competition across the board and it’s very much if you don’t perform one week, you don’t play the next. It’s probably taken me a few more years to learn that, but to be in the position I am now, seeing the young fellas coming through, they are the ones pushing the club forward and I feel fortunate to train and play with them because ultimately they are making me a better player.”

Indeed, Steenson insists the contribution of his team-mates, many of whom have grown up alongside him, is helping to drive standards onwards and upwards at Sandy Park. “New guys coming inuring new things and add to the mix, but we’ve also got a group of guys who have been here a lengthy time,” he continued. “They may be 24, 25 years of ago, but they’ve played a big part in things and are enjoying what we want to achieve, as am I."

Steenson captained the Chiefs in Saturday's 41-10 win over Montpelier at Sandy Park, giving the side a fighting chance of progressing to the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup. The deciding game is at Glasgow Warriors next weekend.

Watch Steenson talk to Radio Exe discussing his Testimonial year: