Billy Keast looks ahead to Champ Rugby final

A U’20s World Championship winner, part of squads that won a European title, two Premiership titles, and two Premiership/Anglo-Welsh Cups during his time at Exeter Chiefs – Billy Keast is no stranger to knock-out rugby.

And Keast is under no illusions that knock-out rugby isn’t just another game, saying, “They do differ, a regular 26-game season isn’t knock-out rugby, there’s pressure to it, and I think the more games you play in those pressured environments, the more you get used to it.”

“There are quite a few experienced lads in our squad, and you’ve seen that so far in these past two games - there’s a bit of calmness in the group.”

“We bring ourselves together, there’s a couple of voices, and we know where we’re going next on the pitch, even with the rough and the smooth.”

“We knew Ealing were going to come back into the game on Saturday, but we dusted ourselves off and kept pushing forward, and that’ll be the same for us on the weekend against a brilliant side in Bedford.”

Reflecting on the calmness and the belief on Saturday, the Warriors loose-head added, “Through this season so far we’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve built a lot of belief in that time, a lot of big results, and that’s in just over nine months we’ve been together.”

“Especially in the last three or four weeks when we’ve had tough results, and then coming in to the quarter-final we’ve had quite a lot of resilience as a group, and I think the belief in those moments on Saturday comes from what we built throughout the year, but also from the experience within the side.”

The excitement of Jake Garside’s late winner was felt by everyone, both at the ground and also following from afar, including Keast, “It was quite a whirlwind, wasn’t it?”

“If that was on the biggest TV stage and the biggest stadiums, it would be remembered for a long, long time, and it certainly will be for us.”

“The high of that emotion was something I don’t think I’ve ever had in rugby.”

Reflecting on the unique nature of the season, Billy added, “It’s been a short journey, but to bring together 35, 40 lads like Matt and have the coaching staff have done is nothing short of extraordinary.”

“I’ve absolutely loved it, meeting new players and staff – with everyone being so welcoming, including the fans.”

“It really feels like we’re now starting to return the favour to those fans who’ve backed us across the season.”