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Exeter Chiefs swoop for 6'4, 120kg Jersey Reds back row Hallam Chapman
By Ian Cameron
Exeter Chiefs are the latest Gallagher Premiership side to confirm the signing of an ex-Jersey Reds player, with the club confirming the signing of Hallam Chapman.
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Chapman – a back row – has represented England Counties U20s and England Students 7s. He joined Exeter last month after news broke that the Jersey Reds would be no more after the Championship side went into liquidation.
The 6’4, 120kg forward has now been rewarded with a full-time contract after a successful trial period.
“It’s been a rollercoaster. I suppose you’ve just got to be perseverant,” said Chapman. “I feel like any setback you have – there’s always opportunities to go from there. I had a brilliant time at Jersey – the coaches and boys were fantastic – but unfortunately it is no more.”
“So, to come back home and have an opportunity here to kick on from is just brilliant. I’ve just got to keep on going, carry on working hard, and if something gets in the way then I’ll just deal with it and go from there.”
“The coaches really know how to push the players and, in fairness, the players are really good at knowing what we need to do right and how to build upon things ourselves. We’ve got high expectations of ourselves and we’ve got to push ourselves to fulfil them.”
Rob Baxter said of the new addition: “Hallam is an ambitious young player taking a less traditional rugby route where he has looked for opportunities outside the regular academy pathway. This led him to play games for London Irish and then to a contract with Jersey.”
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“The situation at Jersey led to Hallam returning home to North Devon and again seeking new opportunities, and after reviewing some footage of him, I invited him to a trial period to train with us. At the same time Plymouth Albion were looking for back five forwards so Hallam trained with us and played for Plymouth over a two-week period and in that time has earned a contract to the end of the season with us.”
“He featured in the A league friendly on Monday. I see him as a hard working, ambitious young man who has been prepared to follow his dream and I can see him developing at a rapid pace in the short time he has been with us.”
“Hopefully this can continue across the rest of this season and Hallam can make the most of this opportunity.”
