- Date of Birth10 / 11 / 1994
- Lions Tours2021
- International CapsEngland (7 caps)
- Lions Origin SchoolsTeignmouth Community College, Ivybridge Community College
- Lions Origin ClubsTeignmouth, Cornish Pirates, Torquay Athletic, Plymouth Albion, Exeter Chiefs, Brixham RFC
Sam Simmonds was rewarded by Warren Gatland with selection for his first British & Irish Lions Tour in 2021 after a sensational few years for Exeter Chiefs.
The older of the two Simmonds brothers at Sandy Park, Sam came through the academy ranks at Chiefs alongside brother Joe after growing up in Devon and playing for Teignmouth RFC in his early years.
His big breakthrough came during the 2017 Premiership 7s, leading Exeter through the qualifying stage and again at Finals Day as Chiefs reached the final.
Simmonds received Player of the Tournament and played his first Premiership match for Chiefs in the same season, earning the Man of the Match award against Wasps.
He went on to help Chiefs lift the 2016/17 Premiership title at Twickenham before going from strength to strength the following season, picking up the club’s Player of the Year accolade.
Simmonds was also named the Premiership’s Young Player of the Year after scoring 15 tries during the 2018/19 season, with his on-field displays making Eddie Jones take note.
His first call-up for England came for the 2017 autumn internationals and Simmonds made his debut against Argentina in a 21-8 victory at Twickenham.
Simmonds was also called up to the 2018 Six Nations squad, starting England’s opening match of the Championship and scoring two tries as they beat Italy 46-15 in Rome.
A serious injury side-lined Simmonds but after helping Chiefs win the Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup double, however, in 2019/20, he was named European Player of the Year.
He became only the seventh Englishman to pick up the accolade, following in the footsteps of Lions teammate Maro Itoje.
During the Chiefs' match against London Irish in May 2021, Simmonds scored his 17th try of the season to draw level with the Premiership try-scoring record, before scoring his 18th and 19th tries of the season
And despite not being selected for England’s 2020 autumn squad or the 2021 Six Nations, Simmonds continued to score tries for fun for Chiefs ahead of receiving a Lions call-up.
While on Tour, he made six appearances and scored one try against the DHL Stormers. He also played a role in the deciding Test against South Africa, coming on with 20 minutes to go in a tight game that was eventually settled by Morne Steyn’s late penalty.