Mumm taps into Exeter ambition

"I'm very fortunate to come into an Exeter team that's been going very well and been building over the last couple of years," saidd the 28-year-old back row. "All I can try to do and hope is that I fit into the environment, which I perceive as one of hard work and honesty in what they achieve. I think everything the Chiefs have achieved has been through hard work and not through perception, they constantly surprise people, and that's very exciting for me to be coming into. I'm privileged to be coming into a team that's playing in the Heineken Cup for the first time."

With a two-year contract agreed with Head Coach Rob Baxter, Mumm now just weeks away from making his eagerly-anticipated switch to Sandy Park.

"One of the things that drew me towards Exeter was their ambition to continue to achieve. I'm obviously yet to be involved in the environment but I see no reason why they can't go forward and win silverware. That was a real reason for me wanting to join.

"I want to come to Exeter to further my career and a wonderful opportunity for me to have a change from what's been the routine for me in Australian rugby and I think that will be refreshing for me personally. I'm also excited by the challenges that exist in Exeter."

He added: "I've always wanted to come and play in Europe. When you look at the ability to move overseas and have that experience at some time, rugby is one of the sports that really gives you an opportunity to do that.

"I've been playing here for seven or so years now and I think the time was right for me to take up that challenge and move overseas and have a change from the same old routine that I have here in Australia.

"It just happened that Exeter was the right fit for me and my wife. We're both really excited about coming over there. For us it's going to be a lovely change of pace from Sydney, a reasonable-size city with four million people to Exeter with a smaller population.

"Also, the Chiefs are a side that's going very well and a side on the up and for me that's really exciting."

On the field, however, is where Mumm - who has won 32 caps for the Wallabies, as well as being the most capped second rower in NSW history - aims to make his biggest impression.

"All the times I've played over there in the UK, predominantly with the Wallabies, the set-piece has been a big aspect of the game," he said. "Saying that, no matter where you play the best teams are able to win their ball very well. At the Waratahs we've had a strong set-piece for the last couple of years.

"The games I've looked at, particularly when the top teams over there play each other have been pretty expansive. You don't underestimate the threat that exists out wide in English rugby at the moment, Exeter and a number of the top teams have to have the firepower to back up a good set-piece."

"I know the competition's going to be very tough. One of the main differences from Super Rugby is the longevity of the season and the nature of the games. We're probably a little bit blessed in Super Rugby to play in some reasonable conditions for a long period of time. It may take me a while to get used to that but so be it.

"I've done a bit of research on Exeter, I expect it will be a great place, everyone I have spoken to says the people are very friendly, and I'm already quite excited about the crowd there because it sounds like they really give it to the people who come down and try to steal that win for us."

Indeed, Mumm has already been brushing up on the opposition that he will come face-to-face with, as well as keeping up to date with all the latest news from Sandy Park.

"I saw the Heineken Cup draw we had and the comments that Rob and the Exeter captain made about it and I couldn't agree more, it's exactly what you want," he said. "You want to go in there and test yourself against the best. The teams in the pool are obviously pretty good at what they do at Heineken Cup level."

The Chiefs will make their debut in the world's most competitive club rugby tournament in a highly-demanding Pool 5 which includes reigning champions, Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Scarlets.