Gareth Steenson ends 16-year Exeter Chiefs career ahead of Northern Ireland return
Exeter-Chiefs-Gareth-Steenson
Club legend Gareth Steenson will return to Northern Ireland at the end of the season as his 16-year association with Exeter Chiefs draws to a close.
The former fly-half has announced that this will be his last campaign at Sandy Park before he returns home.
The Premiership club confirmed that he will leave Sandy Park “to pursue new opportunities” in Northern Ireland.
Gareth Steenson leaves Exeter Chiefs
Steenson retired in 2020 as Exeter’s leading points-scorer of all time during which time he helped the team win a European Champions Cup, two Premiership titles and three Premiership Rugby Cups, one of which was as a coach.
“I’ve had a great journey and one which I’ve been very fortunate to be on both sides,” said Steenson.
“I’ve been in the changing room, I’ve been in the coaches office, I’ve seen it from all different angles.
“Along the way, I’ve met some great people, on the pitch, off the pitch, but for me I think the time is right to move on and look at other opportunities and different things in different fields.”
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Tough decision
He joined the Chiefs back in 2009 from Cornish Pirates after heading to England after being rejected by Ulster as a youngster.
Commenting on the decision to leave Exeter after such a long association, Steenson added: “It was tough, we’ve been back and forth about this for quite a long time.
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“I’d say probably over the last 18 months we’ve talked about the potential of moving back home and we’ve talked about that at great lengths, especially around the kids and the opportunities they are going to get.
“It’s been soul-searching because Exeter’s been a big part of my life, especially my adult life, and it’s given me so many great memories and great opportunities, so I’ll forever be grateful for that, the people like Tony Rowe, Rob Baxter, everyone at the club and, of course, the supporters, who have been amazing.”