Exeter's Skinner determined to prove doubters wrong

Harvey Skinner has started all five of Exeter's league and cup games this season - scoring one try

Harvey Skinner hopes he can prove some Exeter fans wrong with his performances this season.

The fly-half has been criticised by some for his part in the Chiefs' difficult past few seasons, which culminated with a second-from-bottom finish in the Premiership in May.

Homegrown half-back Skinner has been Exeter's first choice since Joe Simmonds left the club in 2023 and has made more than 100 appearances for the Chiefs.

He is hopeful that improved performances from him, and the team, this season, can win any doubters round.

"I guess the fans have their own opinion and if we're losing games normally your nine and 10 are the ones that looked at," he said.

"I'm ultra-competitive. I'm the last person that wants to be losing - the boys will tell you at every session I just want to win and I want the best for this club.

"I get their frustrations, but I obviously listen to the boys around me and the coaches and I'd like to think I'm stubborn enough to just focus on myself and my own performance."

Skinner is part of an exciting back-line at Exeter under the guidance of relatively new attack coach Dave Walder.

Australia centre Len Ikitau is set to come into a side that includes England's Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and powerful winger Paul Brown-Bampoe.

"We've got boys that can just produce magic from nothing, so it's making sure we're all on the same page," he said.

"We want to make make our brand of rugby a lot more exciting and we've definitely got the players to do that."

He added: "Now with Dave it's a different way of thinking.

"Especially my game, just how I can forward think - who I've got in my squad, who I've got around me, what strengths they bring, what weaknesses maybe they bring, and how I can play the right calls around who's around me.

"It's definitely challenged me in a different way of thinking."