Phil Dollman basking in Exeter's phenomenal rise

Former Newport Gwent Dragons centre Phil Dollman will feature for the Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership semi-final on Saturday seven years after feeling "cast aside" in Wales.

The Caerphilly-born came to Devon to rekindle his professional career, signing a deal with the Chiefs in the Championship.

The 31-year-old back has earned more than 160 league and cup appearances for the Chiefs.

"I wouldn't have expected to do this well - sometimes, you have got to pinch yourself a little bit.

"I was a bit down when I was leaving Wales and felt a bit cast aside, but I have found my feet here and it has been a brilliant experience.

"We had talked contracts at the Dragons, but nothing came, and it got to a point where I needed to look for other clubs. Exeter were in the market for someone like me, and when the offer came in, I snapped it up.

"It was a bit on the hoof, a bit out of nowhere, but I was prepared to make the move. I knew I wanted to play rugby professionally and keep that going. I wanted to push as much as I could, but there wasn't anything in Wales for me."

Dollman also praised Exeter boss Rob Baxter who played a vital role in Chiefs' rise from Premiership rookies to play-off status, including three seasons of elite European rugby and a first Champions Cup quarter-final appearance this year where they succumbed to a single point defeat against Wasps at Ricoh Arena.

"He is very thorough," Dollman said. "He does a lot of work and analysis on the game and is looking to improve us week on week.

"We've gone week to week for the last six or seven years, trying to be better and going through things with a fine-tooth comb and picking out where we can improve.

"We believe we have got the game to get a result, and we've got to trust in ourselves and implement the game plan."

"Wasps have got plenty of threats, like we have. We've got to get every aspect of our game up to scratch on Saturday. Against a team like Wasps, you don't have to get too much wrong to be on the losing end of it.

"We believe we have got the game to get a result, and we've got to trust in ourselves and implement the game plan."