Rob Baxter confirms incoming raft of internationals at Exeter

Rob Baxter has all but confirmed that Exeter Chiefs will next week confirm a whole host of big-name arrivals at Sandy Park for next season after they were linked with a trio of Wallabies stars and a Springbok hooker.

The Chiefs are poised to announce deals for Wallaby inside centre Len Ikitau on a initial nine-month deal which could be extended until 2027, NSW Waratahs hooker Julian Heaven and out-of-favour Springbok star Joseph Dweba.

They are also working on a move for Wallaby scrum-half Jake Gordon after moves for Sale Sharks ace Raffi Quirke and Scotland international Ben White from Toulon both fell through at the very last minute.

Chiefs director of rugby Baxter, when pressed during his weekly media call on Wednesday about when an announcement could be made, said: “I would say within the next week.

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“I’m really pleased with how things are shaping up. We look like we can be a very, very competitive group when we get everyone on the pitch. I’m really excited about where we look like we’re heading.

“At nine, people are aware we’re looking to add a little bit of experience and quality there as well, and so obviously, you know Jake Gordon certainly fits that bill. He’s a very good player.

“He has very much come to prominence in the last three or four years both at his club and internationally. He is obviously a very good player, but like I said, we’re looking at, and we’ve looked at, a lot of nines.

“We’ve looked at a lot of hookers, we’ve looked at a lot of centres so as I said we’re in the process now. Len Ikitau is a fantastic player, isn’t he? And he is one we’d love to have here at Exeter, to put it that way.

“As far as Australian players are concerned, you have a long history of them going back to Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Nic White, Dave Dennis, Lachie Turner was here for a while and we have got Scott Sio and Tom Hooper is arriving.”