How stunned Exeter Chiefs captain Joe Simmonds accidentally deleted his MBE

Joe Simmonds had barely put a foot wrong in 2020 until he inadvertently deleted an email from the Palace in November asking if he would formally accept a nomination for an MBE. The 24-year-old Exeter Chiefs captain admits his mistake was a reflection of his administration skills, his embarrassment matched by his surprise at even being in contention for an honour, despite the club’s Premiership and European double triumph last season. “It’s all done by email now, and I’m not very good with mine,” said Simmonds, after being named in the New Year’s Honours list along with the club’s director of rugby, Rob Baxter, who received an OBE. “Coming from a little town like Teignmouth you don’t hear much of people winning MBEs and stuff like that,” added Simmonds. If I am playing better than the other 10s in the Premiership then I will get my chance, if I am not then I won’t.” That ambition will continue on Saturday when Simmonds goes head to head against Callum Sheedy, who broke into the Wales side last year, when the Premiership leaders entertain second-placed Bristol at Sandy Park.