Carrick-Smith joins Pirates on dual-registration
Young Exeter Chiefs Academy lock Will Carrick-Smith has today joined Championship side Cornish Pirates on a dual-registration agreement.
The imposing 21-year-old forward will head to the Mennaye to help alleviate an injury crisis which has robbed the Pirates of locks Neale Patrick, Gary Johnson and James Sandford in recent weeks.
Carrick-Smith made his Chiefs debut last season by scoring a try in an LV= Cup encounter away to London Welsh. Since then the London-born youngster he has featured seven times for Rob Baxter's side, including the LV= Cup games against Bath, Ospreys and Worcester Warriors this season.
As well as gaining further experience in the Aviva Premiership A League, the former Blundell's School pupil has also gained experience in the Championship playing for Plymouth Albion and London Welsh, whilst last summer he played for the Randwick club in Australia, where former Chiefs' player Wade Kelly is the head coach.
Commenting on the move, Baxter said: "It's a good opportunity for Will to go out and achieve some decent game time in the Championship. Here at the Chiefs we have a very good working relationship with Ian Davies and the Pirates, so it's a win-win for everyone concerned.
"Over the past few years we have seen a number of our young players head down to the Pirates, guys like Sam Hill, Jack Yeandle and Dave Ewers, and they have really benefitted from getting game time and exposure at that level. They have used their experiences down there to push on and ultimately break through into our first team.
"We're hoping that Will has a similar experience and uses his time down there to make him a better rugby player."
