Jimmy Roots joins brother Ethan Roots at Exeter Chiefs
You need strong roots to grow, and Rob Baxter has bolstered his Exeter squad with not one but two ahead of the 2024/25 season.
This comes as the Chiefs look to make their mark both domestically and in Europe.
Last season, Ethan Roots was added to the playing roster at Sandy Park.
The imposing backrow forward was drafted in from the Ospreys to help fill the sizeable void of the departed Dave Ewers.
Unknown quantity
Not much was known about the Auckland-born ace at that time.
That, however, changed within months as he quickly settled into his new surroundings in Devon.
His on-field performances were certainly impressive, helping the Chiefs to claim some notable early scalps. This included the likes of Saracens, Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears. In Europe, Toulon were also taken down on their own patch.
Baxter was glowing in his praise of his latest acquisition, but so too was England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Borthwick not only called the player into his training squad but handed him the first of his four Test caps in the Six Nations clash with Italy in January.
A man of the match display in Rome underlined his rapid growth, which has continued to flourish during the course of this year.
Double trouble
Now, the 26-year-old is looking to build further – and with some additional help in the shape of younger brother, Jimmy, who was one of a handful of new arrivals made by Baxter this summer.
“We’ve done it before,” jokes Ethan.
“We played together at North Harbour and also at East Coast Bays, so I think we only really benefit from it. We’ve both got high standards of ourselves, more than we would hold to other people. And I would definitely be a lot harsher on Jimmy than I would be on anyone else.”
It’s a point endorsed by Jimmy, who himself enjoyed success last season, helping the Ealing Trailfinders to the Championship title.
“Getting the win with Ealing and then coming down here, it’s been a massive few months for me,” said Jimmy.
“To have the chance to play at the top level, especially as a young fella like myself, I’m just super grateful to be here.”
Indeed, Jimmy is looking to take a leaf out of Ethan’s book by making his own mark with the Chiefs.
“With Ethan away with England over the summer, it gave me time to find my own feet at the club,” he said. “I knew from speaking with him and coming to visit in the past, that the boys here were top guys. And they’ve made me feel very welcome from day one.
“This is a good step up for me, one that I know is going to challenge me in every facet, whether that’s on the pitch, the gym, wherever. I can’t wait.”
Learning curve
Neither can Ethan, who, despite not featuring for England during their summer tour to Japan and New Zealand, was able to glean plenty from his trip overseas.
“It was special to be there and be part of the group. You can see they are heading in the right direction,” said Ethan. “Just because you’re not playing doesn’t mean you don’t have a role to play.
“Each day you’re training with guys and coaches who are at the very top level. You are bound to learn and add to your game. Even though I didn’t play, I genuinely came back from camp feeling like I was a better player.
“Now I’m here at the Chiefs, I feel I can add a bit more value than I did last season.
“So that’s exciting.”
Family connection
And it’s that excitement which clearly drives both players as they look to progress onwards and upwards.
Ethan says: “When we were young kids, our mum would always be like ‘you’re going to play for the All Blacks’, whereas the old man would be ‘what about the Rose?’
“We never thought it would be a possibility because of where we were.
“But since coming over here and having that opportunity, it’s been unbelievable.
“For me, getting the chance to do it with Sladey and Manny, that just made it even better.”
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