Stupple keen to impress in first season as a pro

ACADEMY graduate Herbie Stupple has set his sights on earning a new deal with Exeter Chiefs next season.

The 19-year-old was this week handed his first professional contract by the Sandy Park outfit.

After penning a 12-month deal, Stupple has already turned his thoughts to what he needs to do to get an extended contract.

He hopes to learn more about his new position of centre during pre-season and then get enough game time next term to impress.

Stupple has come through the Exeter Chiefs England Rugby Academy, initially as a back-rower before being converted to an inside centre a year ago.

He admits he is still getting used to the demands on his new role.

"During pre-season I'm hoping to learn the skills and just get the knowledge about playing centre," he said.

"Hopefully I can get on the bench for the first team but I could also go out on loan to another club to get some game time.

"If I am going to progress to be a 12 then I will need to get some game time there and even if that's for another club it could still push me up to the (Exeter) first team."

Stupple, who helped Truro College win the Daily Mail Under-18s Cup at Twickenham last season, has sought out a lot of advice on where to play in the future.

"I've been talking with a lot of people about which position I should play and where they see my career going," he said.

"A lot of people have been telling me you don't get a lot of 6ft 2ins guys weighing 17-and-a-half stone in the 12 position.

"Obviously it's still up in the air whether I play 12 or in the back row. I enjoyed playing centre last season for the college so hopefully the club can sort me out and we can take it from there.

"I've been going off with the backs in training so far and I've been doing a bit of kicking, which I've never done before playing in the back row.

"It took a bit of getting used to on Tuesday, the balls were flying everywhere. I'm going to work on it and it should get better, Ali Hepher and Ricky Pellow are working on it with me."

Stupple was an unused replacement for the Chiefs' final game of last season against Doncaster and he said that had helped him settle in this summer.

"I met a lot of the guys last year and got on well with them," he said.

"I've got my own mentor here as well in Chris Bentley.

"He looks after me and has helped me through these first two weeks, which I've enjoyed."