Bath v Exeter: Meet Campbell Riddle, the Chiefs’ flying wing sensation

Along with the suggestion, Woodburn, along with hooker Jack Yandle, gave Riddle a nickname; ‘Ostrich’.

“That’s because I’m tall, a bit lean, quite fast, come a long way,” said the 6ft 5in Ridl.

“I think that’s what they were going for.”

There is another aspect that makes it suitable. The Riddle came out of Africa.

Three months after his birth in South London in 2005, Riddle’s South African parents returned to Cape Town to be closer to family.

They, along with the rest of Riddle’s family, are still there.

His younger brother Will recently signed for the Durban-based Sharks after being ripped from the same school Campbell was once a part of.

“I think he wanted to come here, but he got a really good deal at the Sharks,” Riddle said.

“The guys at the club saw a few of his videos and said they ended up with the bad bro!”

Riddle needed nicknames and such teasing to bring him out of his shell. He admitted to being a “really quiet, reserved guy” who struggled at Chiefs in the first few weeks after arriving in 2024.

Managing the move from university rugby was also difficult, both physically and mentally.

“I came down to 90kgs (14st 2lb) on Exeter’s website – I’ve put on a bit since then, but one of the hardest things now is keeping the weight off.

“The nutritionist just said eat as much as you can – everything and anything – so it’s kind of nice, but also kind of hard at times.

“And being in a ‘uni’ mentality, you don’t take it as seriously as everyone else. But as soon as you start playing for the majors, you have to maintain drama, your role and clarity. It’s mentally draining, but I stuck with it.”

It wasn’t just his mind that Riddle had to keep locked away. While studying marketing and management, he lives with his classmates. The night before the game, while his housemates head out on the town, Riddle learns a routine.

“Sometimes they mess around and try to wake me up, but these days I lock my door so they can’t get in,” she laughs.

In Ridl’s last visit to the Rec, he endured his lowest moment in a season of highlights.

Three minutes into January’s regular-season meeting with Bath, Riddle chased down a box kick and locked his eyes on the ball, fouling an airborne Henry Arundel.

Arundel crashed to the turf and Riddle was sent off the pitch with a red card.