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EURFC in Focus: Dan John

EURFC in Focus: Dan John

Harry Scott-Munro4 Apr 2021 - 13:33
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We chat to first year student Dan John, after a crazy few weeks, that has seen him thrust into the thick of the action with Exeter Chiefs.

It has been quite a whirlwind for young back Dan John in the last few weeks, as he has gone from sitting in Wales, to being thrust into the thick of things with Exeter Chiefs, making his debut against Leicester Tigers, before starting his first Gallagher Premiership match against Gloucester a week later.

Having started playing the game at six years of age, before stopping to take up football, John rediscovered the sport in 2017 when he moved to Hong Kong, before moving back to England and studying at Millfield School.

John credits the school for giving him the experience of a professional-style environment at a young-age, as he completed his studies.

“The school provided me with a student athlete experience that was as close to a professional environment I could’ve got at schoolboy level. I was able to train in amazing facilities and play regularly as well as study for my A-levels.”

Having represented Wales at U18, U19 and U20 level, John visited Exeter University with Exeter Chiefs prospect Olly Burrows, whom he knew from Millfield. After introducing himself to the coaching staff at Chiefs, they attended several of his games and took an interest in his performances.

“I came to visit Exeter university with Oliver Burrows who was also in Millfield and Chiefs had shown an interest in him. We visited Sandy Park and I introduced myself,” he explains. “They then came to watch a few of my school and U20 games. From there, I got a three-year contract from those exposures.”

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation that led to the cancellation of the entire university sport season for Term 1 and 2, John is still yet to taste competitive action for EURFC and admits that he is “looking forward to enjoying rugby and hopefully getting regular games playing with the boys at uni.”

The lack of match opportunities for all at university this season, left many players without regular game-time, John included, before Exeter Chiefs came calling ahead of the Leicester Tigers match at Sandy Park.

Reflecting on his debut for the club, where he came onto the pitch late in the second-half, John admits that he couldn’t quite believe the opportunity that had presented itself.

“My debut was pretty exciting I didn’t really get a chance to get nervous. I was pretty chuffed to get on at the end even if it was only for a few minutes.”

John is well-aware that he is currently in amongst a group of players performing at the top of the game, having secured a Premiership and European double last season.

“I’ve enjoyed my time so far with Chiefs. It’s a really professional environment and all the senior lads are very welcoming,” he notes. “A few injuries to some of the outside backs gave me a chance to get on the bench and come on against Leicester.”

A week later, things were to get even better for John, as he was named at outside-centre against Gloucester at Kingsholm, starting his first premiership match in the process.
Looking ahead for the next couple of years, John’s immediate goal is to learn as much as he can from within the Chiefs environment, before pushing on to “hopefully earn a spot in the Wales U20s squad later this year.”

Very few players are able to say that they have made their premiership debut before their university debut, with John now able to add his name to that list, as he hopes to continue to get as many minutes as possible in a Chiefs jersey this season.

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