Cornwall is the pull for John – just like Tommy
DAN John, one of the latest batch of Exeter Chiefs players bidding to take the Cornwall route to a first-choice place at Sandy Park, only has to look at Tommy Wyatt for inspiration.
Fellow back three player Wyatt began last season on the bench at the Mennaye Field – and finished it being selected ahead of Scotland legend Stuart Hogg at full-back for the latter stages of Exeter's European Champions Cup campaign, including the semi-final defeat by La Rochelle.
While the Chiefs played Wyatt mainly as a fullback, he figured mostly on the wing for Pirates and that is where John capped at U18, 19 and 20 level by Wales, is expected to play with Kyle Moyle reclaiming the No15 shirt on his return to Cornwall following his release by Gloucester.
“I can't wait. Cornwall's a bit like Wales so I'm looking forward to playing down here,” said 22-year-old John, the son of former Cardiff and Pontypridd coach Paul John.
“Definitely, it's a motivation for me. This is a brilliant pathway to try and get into that first team at Exeter.
“Tom went from playing down here to playing in the European semi-final in one season which is brilliant for him and he played really well so that's part of why I'm looking forward to the start of this season.”
John will be reunited with wing flyer Arthur Relton, his former teammate and fellow Exeter University sports science graduate, who is back for a second year with Pirates after arriving 12 months ago.
“He didn't play in the first part of the season and once they started playing him he picked up a few injuries but he ended up top scorer so he had a really good season.
“I'm looking forward to playing with Arthur, I also played with him at University and we've always had a really good relationship.”
