Regulars at the Brunswick Arms know that its landlord, Dan Force, is a keen rugby player and a long-time member of Teignmouth RFC – the former club of Exeter Chiefs stars Joe and Sam Simmonds.

And, having played for Teignmouth with the Simmonds brothers, Dan's not at all surprised by their role in the Exeter Chiefs' glorious double victory this month, as they won first the European Heineken Champions Cup and then the Gallagher Premiership title.

Dan watched both matches on TV while working in the pub, which was as packed as social distancing would allow.

And, after seeing Chiefs captain Joe lead the team to triumph and score the winning penalties in both matches, he said: "He always had that little bit extra."

A rising young talent with Teignmouth RFC

Now aged just 23, Joe would have been 17 or 18 at the time he played alongside Dan for Teignmouth RFC, but Dan says his talent shone out even at that young age.

He said: "He was just crisper, his passing was spot-on, he could pass really well off both hands, very quick, and his kicking was always spot-on as well.

"Even his decision-making back then - which you can see now is 100 times better - but he still had that extra edge.

"He was very quiet, he never boasted or anything, he was quiet but very skilful and he developed really well as a player.

"The years that he played with us we had a really, really good set of players who were all in their peak, as it were."

Sam Simmonds 'always had the power'

Of Joe's older brother, Sam, he said: "Sam's always had the power, he's that little bit taller than Joe, and even when he was back playing for us, although he was quite skinny back then he was always tall and he had the power and was able to run through people, he was so fast.

"I remember playing in Joe's position, fly half, and had Sam outside me and it was such an easy ride for me because I could just give the ball to him and he'd just run through, it was nice and easy.

"He started playing at a much higher level very quickly."

Dan said the role of the two former Teignmouth RFC brothers in the Chiefs' double triumph was 'great for the area, great for the club, great for the town'.

He said: "When people have got talent like that they don't last very long at a lower league, they're going to be snapped up pretty quickly."