VARNEY'S THE EX FACTOR

Chiefs star’s meteoric rise after messaging All Blacks legend Smith for advice

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY

EXETER scrum-half Stephen Varney revealed how a random message kickstarted his rise through the rugby ranks.

Varney lines up in today's Prem semi-final at Bath: He has won 30 caps for Italy, qualifying through mum Valeria, and is on the brink of a domestic final.

But his development can be traced back to a random message sent to his hero Smith, 35, when he was a teenager at Hartpury College.

Varney said: “He was my idol growing up. The way he used to pass the ball, he was such an energiser around that All Blacks team and everything they achieved, I was there celebrating. I strive to be like that.