Young Gun: Exeter Chiefs lock Cory Teague
Boasting one of the more famous surnames in the southwest quadrant of English rugby must come with some added pressure for lock Cory Teague, but he insists he is not aware of any blood relation to famed Gloucester and England flanker Mike.
It is just as well for the former Truro College forward as his landing on the pathway at Exeter Chiefs has led him down the route to join Cornish Pirates on dual-registration for the new season, and return home to Cornwall.
“I have actually asked my parents that before but they had never heard of him,” Teague, 20, told TRP. “I know a bit about Iron Mike and his career and look up to his achievements and way of play, in a way. But he's no relation, no.
“It has always been Exeter and not Gloucester for me. I was born in Bodmin, my parents are both from Bodmin so my roots are slap bang in the middle of Cornwall.
“I went to Bodmin College and then Truro and they are all linked to Chiefs and that is how I got into their pathway.
“I've played there for a couple of years in the academy and have now ended up back in Cornwall with Pirates.
It is nice to play rugby here in Cornwall being a Cornish boy.”
One of six Exeter youngsters to sign with the Championship club on dual-registration terms, Teague identifies a synergy between Chiefs and the Pirates as a key benefit to aid his development as he hopes for plenty of game-time at the club which stunned Saracens at the Mennaye back in March.
It is the next step for Teague, who helped Taunton Titans achieve promotion last season, as he builds towards the new season fresh on the advice of Exeter forwards coach Rob Hunter and Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver.
“They have been massive. Rob has told me all sorts of things that I can bring down to Pirates and putting them to use,” Teague said.
“As I am one of the younger guys at Exeter, I obviously don't get as many reps as the seniors. So when I am there, it is case of also looking at what the older guys are doing and what Rob is saying to them as well as taking in what he is saying to me.
“To bring that to Pirates is now about getting more reps and there is Alan Paver here, who is one of the best scrum coaches I have come across. I'm working him after having some time have Rob Hunter on my back about scrums and all sorts, that has improved myself as a forward in a dominant pack.
“I was training at Pirates just before I got the contract with Chiefs. I was close with the coaches even before I came down on loan.
“They are in close contact with the coaches at Exeter and probably speak once a fortnight to keep a check on us all.”
