Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after Henry Slade this week put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the Aviva Premiership.
Having already accrued the services of fellow young guns Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers and Sam Hill until the summer of 2017, the 21-year-old playmaker has joined his colleagues in committing his future to the Sandy Park club.
It was - according to the Plymouth-born back - a simple decision to make and now he aims to kick on further and help the Chiefs to build for the future.
Pre-season has come and gone for another year, but now it's down to the 'real stuff' as Exeter Chiefs prepare to kick-off their fifth year in the Aviva Premiership.
First up for Rob Baxter's side is Sunday's trip to newly-promoted London Welsh, a side the Devon club know all too well following numerous encounters with the Exiles in both the Premiership and RFU Championship.
It's a clash which, according to Baxter, should provide the ideal starting point for his Class of 2014/15 as they prepare for a new term of action in English rugby's top flight.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has confirmed Pat Phibbs is to return to the club on trial with immediate effect.
The Australian scrum-half signed for London Irish on a two-year deal in February 2013 but was released this summer after breaking a foot in pre-season last year.
However, pre-season knocks to Dave Lewis and Will Chudley have meant Baxter is keen to ensure there is sufficient cover for the start of the new Aviva Premiership season, which gets underway this Sunday with a trip to newly-promoted London Welsh (2pm).
Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Dave Lewis will sit out the club’s remaining two pre-season friendlies after injuring an elbow in last week’s win over Cardiff Blues.
The 25-year-old sustained the blow during the second half of Exeter’s 24-17 victory at the BT Sports Cardiff Arms Park – and has since undergone a scan to determine the full extent of the damage caused.
Already head coach Rob Baxter has confirmed Lewis will sit out tomorrow’s trip to Ulster and the forthcoming friendly against Championship side Worcester Warriors on August 29 – and is hopeful the former Gloucester No....
Will Chudley says it’s key that Exeter Chiefs look to get into the winning habit as quickly as possible ahead of the new 2014/15 season.
Having kicked off their pre-season programme with a 24-17 victory at the Cardiff Blues, the Aviva Premiership club head across the Irish Sea this week to tackle Ulster Rugby at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night (7.30pm).
With head coach Rob Baxter keen to run the rule over all his squad – including his eight new signings – scrum-half Chudley knows it’s important that each and ever Exeter player lays down a marker ahead of the upcoming...
Rob Baxter declared himself “very pleased” after watching his Exeter Chiefs side record a notable 24-17 victory over Cardiff in their first pre-season fixture at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night.
First half tries from Jack Arnott, Will Chudley and Sam Simmonds, coupled with nine points from the boot of fly-half Gareth Steenson, proved sufficient enough for the Aviva Premiership club to overcome the Welsh region, who countered with tries of their own from George Watkins, Chris Dicomidis and Ellis Jenkins.
Two of Cardiff’s scores came in the final minutes of the...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter insists things are starting to "crank up" in terms of squad preparation ahead of the new 2014/15 season.
Baxter welcomed his players back into their latest phase of pre-season on Monday having giving them all a week's rest following a physically demanding opening block of training.
Now with friendlies against Cardiff Blues, Ulster and Worcester Warriors looming large on the horizon, Exeter's leader has been overseeing the next phase which, he says, sees a step up in standards.
“We’ve done a live bit of contact this week. Although...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after Jack Nowell became the latest Exeter Chiefs player to commit his future to the Aviva Premiership club.
England international Nowell has today agreed terms on a new and improved contract that will keep him at Sandy Park until 2017.
And the news that the talented Cornishman is prolonging his stay at the Devon club has been welcomed by Baxter, who in recent weeks has also tied down the futures of fellow young guns Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers and Sam Hill.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter believes new signing Ryan Caldwell is "raring to go" after adding the Irishman to the playing ranks at Sandy Park. The 29-year-old Irish international, who has agreed a two-year deal, is Baxter's fifth summer recruit so far having already added Thomas Waldrom, Moray Low, Mitch Lees and Tomas Francis to his playing roster for the 2014/15 season. Caldwell's arrival in Devon will offer a welcome boost to his new coach, who this season alone has lost locks Tom Hayes and James Hanks to retirement and Romana Graham to French club side La Rochelle. Baxter said...
In what has certainly been a year to remember for Henry Slade, the Exeter Chiefs young gun insists his key aim moving forward is to just "keep his head down".
During a terrific 12 months for the 21-year-old playmaker, not only has Slade helped England Under-20s to lift the Junior World Championship for the first time, but he has helped the Chiefs to secure their first-ever major trophy; featured regularly in both the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup; as well as getting senior international action with the England Saxons.
It has - in Slade's own words - been somewhat "...
