Jared Wright 16 Oct 2024 Number eights in hot demand in France as Springboks, Ireland and England stars headline the shortlists Several Top 14 clubs are in the market for a new number eight ahead of the 2025/26 season. Top 14
Alex Spink 03 Sep 2024 Sam Simmonds aims to ‘feed off’ Billy Vunipola and provides Stuart Hogg update ahead of ‘unbelievably’ competitive Top 14 season Sam Simmonds issues a verdict on whether he and long-time rival Billy Vunipola can work and provides an update on Stuart Hogg. Top 14
Alex Spink 02 Sep 2024 Sam Simmonds: ‘I never really felt I fitted in with England’ Our first of an exclusive two-part interview with Montpellier’s British & Irish Lion and former European player of the year Sam Simmonds. England
Louis Chapman Coombe 19 Jun 2024 Exeter Chiefs’ star-studded Ultimate XV, including ‘golden generation’ academy products and Premiership legends Louis Chapman-Coombe makes his Planet Rugby debut selecting the Ultimate Exeter Chiefs XV. Exeter Chiefs
Adam Kyriacou 08 Dec 2023 Eben Etzebeth, Sam Simmonds and George North all feature in opening Challenge Cup round Check on the team news for this weekend's Challenge Cup action. Challenge Cup
Jared Wright 15 Jun 2023 England boss ‘impressed’ with Billy Vunipola as he weighs up back-row Billy Vunipola has impressed Steve Borthwick as the competition for the England number eight jersey heats up. England
Adam Kyriacou 30 Apr 2023 Exeter Chiefs player ratings: Sam Simmonds empties the tank but La Rochelle’s muscle too much in Champions Cup semi-final loss Check out our player ratings for Exeter Chiefs following their 47-28 loss to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup semi-final in Bordeaux on Sunday. Exeter Chiefs
Jared Wright 04 Apr 2023 Champions Cup: The nine stat leaders heading into the quarter-finals, including most metres, offloads and tackles Planet Rugby takes a look at the top performers across nine statistics ahead of the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Champions Cup
David Skippers 23 Nov 2022 Premiership: Sam Simmonds happy with decision to leave Exeter for Montpellier Sam Simonds believes he made the right decision to join Montpellier from Exeter Chiefs after next year's Rugby World Cup in France. Exeter Chiefs
Colin Newboult 17 Nov 2022 England: Owen Farrell to win 100th cap while Sam Simmonds and Billy Vunipola both start in the back-row Head coach Eddie Jones has named his England squad to take on New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series encounter at Twickenham on Saturday. England
Dylan Coetzee 28 Sep 2022 Exeter: Rob Baxter gives his ‘blessing’ to Sam Simmonds for Montpellier move Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has voiced his support for Sam Simmonds, who has signed for Top14 side Montpellier from next season. Exeter Chiefs
David Skippers 27 Sep 2022 Premiership: Mark McCall feels Sam Simmonds move from Exeter to Montpellier is a concern for English clubs Sam Simmonds' move from Exeter Chiefs to Montpellier should be a concern for Premiership clubs, according to Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. Exeter Chiefs
Dylan Coetzee 17 May 2022 England: Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Simmonds a doubt for summer Tests Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds requires hip surgery and will be a doubt for England’s upcoming July series against Australia. England
Dylan Coetzee 21 Apr 2022 Premiership: Exeter monitoring Sam Simmonds’ injury but hopeful of a return before the end of the regular season Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds is being monitored by the club who are hopeful he'll return before the end of the regular season. Exeter Chiefs
Stan Wilson 13 Apr 2022 Champions Cup: Five players that need to step up this weekend Ahead of the second leg of the Champions Cup last-16 matches, we delve into the players that need to have big performances this week. Champions Cup
Dylan Coetzee 09 Apr 2022 Sam Simmonds: Exeter Chiefs number eight says Lions tour reignited his love for Test rugby Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds said the 2021 trip to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions reignited his love for Test rugby. Exeter Chiefs
Adam Kyriacou 16 Mar 2022 England: Sam Simmonds gets behind Eddie Jones as another poor Six Nations looms Sam Simmonds insists England's players are fully behind Eddie Jones as the head coach attempts to rescue a poor Six Nations from calamity. England
Lawrence Nolan 09 Mar 2022 England: Sam Simmonds stays true to his uniqueness Number eight Sam Simmonds has had to learn a lot about patience and sticking to his guns while waiting for a Test recall to the England team. England
Adam Kyriacou 05 Feb 2022 Sam Simmonds: England number eight ready for ‘hostile environment’ against Scotland in Six Nations clash Sam Simmonds insists England will feed off the hostility at Murrayfield when they start their Six Nations against Scotland on Saturday. England
Colin Newboult 29 Jan 2022 Six Nations: Six bold predictions including France star Cameron Woki to claim top prize Planet Rugby's bold predictions for the 2022 Six Nations Championship. Six Nations
Planet Rugby 24 Jan 2022 Sam Simmonds: Rob Baxter hails ‘bang on form’ Exeter number eight Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter hailed the form of Sam Simmonds and insists he has done enough to feature for England in the Six Nations. Exeter Chiefs
Planet Rugby 03 Nov 2021 Sam Simmonds ‘a bit annoyed’ over England snub Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has revealed that Sam Simmonds is slightly "annoyed" after being left out of England's squad to face Tonga. England
Planet Rugby 10 Oct 2021 Ali Hepher praises ‘quality’ of Sam Simmonds Exeter assistant coach Ali Hepher praised Sam Simmonds' "quality" after he scored two tries in their 42-5 win over Worcester on Saturday. Exeter Chiefs
Adam Kyriacou 18 Jun 2021 Sam Simmonds named Premiership Player of the Season Exeter Chiefs star Sam Simmonds has been crowned the Premiership Player of the Season, beating Marcus Smith and Dave Ewers to glory. Premiership
Adam Kyriacou 10 Jun 2021 Sam Simmonds completes unique award double Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds has become the first player to pick up two Premiership Player of the Month awards in one season. Exeter Chiefs
Adam Kyriacou 09 Jun 2021 Gongs for Sam Simmonds, Marcus Smith and Poppy Cleall Exeter Chiefs' Sam Simmonds, Harlequins' Marcus Smith and England Women's Poppy Cleall have won Rugby Players' Association awards. Premiership
David Skippers 09 Jun 2021 Rob Baxter allays fears over Sam Simmonds’ fitness Rob Baxter has reduced fears over Sam Simmonds' fitness after he left the field with an ankle injury in Exeter's victory against Northampton. Exeter Chiefs
David Skippers 07 Jun 2021 Sam Simmonds injury scare for Lions Lions coach Warren Gatland will be concerned over the fitness of Sam Simmonds after he injured his ankle in Exeter's win over Northampton. British and Irish Lions
Colin Newboult 25 May 2021 Eddie Jones congratulates Sam Simmonds on Lions call England boss Eddie Jones congratulated Sam Simmonds after the back-rower was selected in Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad. British and Irish Lions
Adam Kyriacou 09 May 2021 Sam Simmonds lauded after try double for Exeter Chiefs Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds was hailed by forwards coach Rob Hunter after his efforts in the Premiership against Worcester. Exeter Chiefs