Scott Sio is chasing one last dream at Exeter: a playoff berth before he leaves the English club this summer. The 34-year-old prop has been a steadying force in the Chiefs' pack since arriving from Australia's Brumbies in October 2022, and with just two matches remaining in the regular season, Exeter sits fourth—exactly where they need to be to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2021.
It's a redemption arc the club badly needs. When Sio arrived, Exeter had just posted back-to-back seventh-place finishes. Last season, they tumbled to a worst-ever ninth place. Now, under director of rugby Rob Baxter's steady hand, there's genuine momentum. Exeter faces Leicester (currently third) before hosting Saracens (fifth) in their final two matches—winnable fixtures that could propel them into the postseason.
"You always want to achieve great things at clubs and win trophies," Sio told BBC Sport. "We understand there's obviously a process to that, but I'd be ecstatic if we could push forward and have a big win at Twickenham in three weeks' time." That quiet determination, paired with 82 appearances and 10 tries in Exeter blue, defines his four-year tenure.
But Sio's story extends far beyond the Premiership. A Sydney native who represented Australia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup final—a loss to New Zealand—he recently made a remarkable pivot. After a three-year international hiatus, he switched allegiances to Samoa in November, earning his first caps for the nation of his family's heritage. His father, David, represented what was then Western Samoa in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. His sister, Ana-Lise, played in every match of Samoa's pool at last summer's Women's Rugby World Cup.
The timing matters more than symbolism. Samoa triumphed in the Final Qualification Tournament for the 2027 Rugby World Cup—which will be held in Australia, giving the entire endeavor a poetic symmetry. "It's quite funny the World Cup is in Australia as well," Sio said, smiling at the coincidence. "I'm very proud—we did it the hard way over in Dubai against a very spirited Belgium side."
Beyond rugby, Sio's time in Exeter has become a chapter of personal growth. He's getting married in July to his fiancée Nara and welcomed a son. "I came over in October 2022 with an open mind to just improve as a player and a person and I definitely feel I've done that here," he reflected. "The club have really just given me a great environment to do that and [given me] opportunities to express myself as a player in a new competition. So much has happened to me, not just on the field—I've had a little one, my son—so it's just been blessings on blessings coming over here."
Baxter sees something rare in Sio: a professional who exemplifies character during hardship. "Scotty's been fantastic—he's been one of our key and consistent performers through a pretty challenging time," the director of rugby said. "I actually said to Scotty 'I really do hope this season has a lot of positives for you' because he's worked extremely hard and been a very good player at a challenging time for the club. I said 'I'd love it if you were here at a time when you feel like we've had a really successful season and you've been a part of it'—that's how I would like him to sign off his time here."
Two matches remain. Exeter and their steady prop have one last chance to write the ending both deserve.