Salvi raring to go

Julian Salvi is bracing himself for a “non-stop season” after settling in well to life with new club Exeter Chiefs.

Having spent the past four campaigns with Aviva Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers, the 29-year-old forward has opted for a fresh start down in the Westcountry, working under the guidance of Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.

As one of a number of new faces brought to Sandy Park by Baxter during the close season, Salvi has wasted little time in getting stuck into working life in Devon, pushing himself hard during the opening weeks of the club’s pre-season programme.

Already, though, the Australian admits his game is developing and has highlighted the work that has been done by the Chiefs coaching staff in the build-up to the 2015/16 season.

“Every year you can add different bits to your game and I am looking forward to exploring that side of things at Exeter,” said the Canberra-born forward.

“Hopefully I can develop and improve my game a lot further. I can see already improvements in my game having been here for just two weeks.

“I hope I can transfer that into how I play and add little bits and pieces because, as a player, you always want to improve and get better and this environment in conducive of that.”

With the Chiefs set to face Bath and Gloucester during pre-season in the Westcountry Challenge Cup, Salvi could well find himself making his Premiership bow for the Chiefs against former club Bath on the opening day of the season.

Salvi spent a year at the Recreation Ground in between spells back home with the Brumbies - and his efforts did not go unnoticed as he scooped the best forward and supporters’ player of the year awards.

In more recent times, his on-field efforts for the Tigers have been equally effective and his switch to the Chiefs this summer has been hailed as one of the best moves in the division.

The talented back-row forward joins a Chiefs squad still brimming with confidence following a hugely encouraging campaign last season.

But with the Rugby World Cup meaning a later start to this season’s Premiership, plus the LV= Cup cancelled for a year, the make-up of the season will be somewhat relentless for all 12 top flight clubs, including the Chiefs.

“It is going to be a non-stop season. With the LV= Cup being taken out there is no free window to potentially rest guys,” he said.

“It is going to be a non-stop event going from championship to Premiership rugby and it will just be an enterprising all-action season.

“That is what you look forward to as a player because you love playing in the big games against all the teams, so I am looking forward to that, but there is no relenting.”