Signed last summer from the Cardiff Blues, the experienced Welsh international today agreed terms on a new one-year contract.

Brought in to compete for the No.10 jersey alongside fellow play-makers Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade, the 34-year-old admits life at Sandy Park has more than lived up to expectations.

"I'm really happy and I've enjoyed the year so far and playing down here," said Sweeney. "I've not had too many opportunities to play, but it's a good environment and I'm delighted to have been asked to stay on for another year.

"Certainly it's lived up to expectations for me and coming to Exeter was a new and fresh challenge, which has reinvigorated me a bit. For me, it's been nice working with different people in a different environment.

"Obviously playing in Wales for so long, it's a small environment and everybody knows what is going on, but in the Premiership it's different ideas, different styles and different teams and that is the exciting part of it all. Every week is a tough challenge and brings up different obstacles ."

Indeed, having played all his club rugby in the Principality prior to his switch to the Chiefs, Sweeney says the competitive and relentless nature of the Premiership is something that appeals to him.

"I think the biggest difference I've found is that every game is a big game in the Premiership," he continued. "Every week there is something on the game and the intensity is right up there. Also the crowds are great because even with the LV= Cup games, we're still packing them in here and getting lots of people through the gates."

Sweeney's main exposure to life with the Chiefs first team has been in the various cup competitions this season, but the Glyncoch-born back insists he is pushing his rivals hard for a place in the Premiership match-day squad.

"Realistically, I am that little bit older and I know where I am within the squad, but I'm still pushing hard and I want to be playing like everyone else," he added. "I still I can do a job and when I have played, I think I've done alright, so hopefully I'll keep pushing the boys and hopefully get a chance at some stage."

The experience of Sweeney is certainly a valuable tool to have within the Exeter ranks and as part of his new deal, the 35-times capped star will take on a role of coaching and mentoring some of the club's rising stars.

"It's definitely something I'm interested in," he said. "Luckily I've got a lot of experiences and I've been in that situation myself in the past. Also I like working with the younger boys here because it's good to see them develop and help them with parts of their games.

"And I suppose what they do well here is that they encourage the boys to be rugby players and not robots in the gym who are lifting weights and pushing things. Here they are encouraged to play rugby and back their skills and I think we are seeing the fruits of that with the boys that have come through recently."