By David Roberts
Former RGC 1404 back row man Sean Lonsdale has pledged his long-term future to Gallagher Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs.
The 22-year-old Welsh-qualified player has made 31 appearances for the Chiefs since joining from the north Wales side in 2018.
He is part of a squad that already boasts Welsh internationals in Tomas Francis and Alex Cuthbert, as well as former Dragons full back Phil Dollman.
Manchester-born forward Lonsdale is one of a number of players who have graduated from RGC and earned professional contracts.
He packed down in the second row for the Gogs when they faced a Wales XV ahead of the international summer tour to face Tonga and Samoa in 2017.
Lonsdale followed in the footsteps of James Lang, who left Colwyn Bay to join Harlequins and went on to play for Scotland, while another outside-half, Jacob Botica, is currently at the Dragons.
Ospreys back row stalwart Olly Cracknell also cut his teeth at RGC, as did Wales U20 prop Sam Wainwright, who joined European champions Saracens this season.
Wales U20 full back Rhun Williams was another who made the grade at regional level before his career was cruelly cut short through injury.
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, whose first signing at the club when they were in the Championships was Dollman, sent Lonsdale out on loan at both Taunton and Plymouth Albion last season, but is convinced he has got what it takes to make the grade at one of the top clubs in Europe.
His Chiefs debut came in an Anglo-Welsh Cup tie at Worcester Warriors in January, 2018, and since then he has added 30 more appearances for the Devon club, scoring three tries in the process.
“Sean is one of those stories you really like, rugby-wise. He took a chance by leaving Wales and investing in that change of rugby environment,” said Baxter.
“He came to us and bought into what we wanted to do, almost as an academy player. He’s done his time, so to speak, and has played in some big games for us.
“He’s got the ability to play right across the back five, which has made him a really valuable member of the 23 on numerous occasions. It’s one of those things you like to talk about as a success story – a young player who has come here, worked hard and is reaping the rewards almost week by week.
“He’s never let us down and he’s improving all the time. We can still see that good element of development in him.”
Baxter also praised the patience Lonsdale, who has a Welsh mother, has shown during his time at Sandy Park.
He believes Lonsdale, known as the ‘silent assassin’, is the perfect role model for how far a young player can go if they are willing to listen, train hard and make the most of opportunities afforded to them.
“When you look at young players, they can make it easy for you to invest in them. Sean did that,” added Baxter.
“He initially wasn’t expecting the world and he knew the first period of being a young player is to invest in yourself. Sometimes that means being like an academy player for a couple of years, understanding that you’ve got some hard work to do and some experience to gain.
“That’s what I think Sean has done really well – and he’s continually shown that level of improvement, which means it is worth continually investing in someone.
“That’s why I like to turn a lot of the credit to the players, because some can make it hard. They want the world immediately – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but these days, particularly in professional sport, you’ve got to have a decent bit of time investing in yourself.
“I think Sean is only now really becoming comfortable in the surroundings of the first team. He will become more influential and a more important player over time.”