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Rob Baxter to boost Exeter Chiefs squad with forward signings

Rob Baxter is seeking to add to his forward pack (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Exeter Chiefs are reported to be on the verge of making additions to their squad for the new Gallagher Premiership season.

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To date director of rugby Rob Baxter has added only Irish centre Sean O’Brien and Kiwi prop Josh Iosefa-Scott to his squad while nine players have left Sandy Park.

But according to Devon Live, Baxter has suggested two new forwards will shortly join the Chiefs.

A number of sources indicate that 6ft 8 Western Force second row Ryan McCauley is likely to be one of the new faces joining the English powerhouses’ during pre-season.

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The former Australia U20 international previously spent three seasons in Super Rugby with Sydney-based Waratahs before crossing to Perth to join Western Force on a one-year contract which expires shortly.

In the short-term, the 24-year-old would provide cover for Jonny Hill who will make a delayed return to club action following his involvement with the British & Irish Lions.

Including any enforced quarantine periods, England’s Lions representatives are guaranteed ten weeks away from match action following the end of the tour, meaning Hill will not be seen in an Exeter shirt until at least mid-October.

Hill plus Scotland locks Jonny Gray and Sam Skinner are also likely to miss significant parts of the club season due to call-ups to the autumn internationals and Six Nations campaigns.

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Exeter launch their Premiership campaign on Saturday September 18 with a tricky-looking trip to Welford Road to face Leicester.

Among the players to leave Sandy Park are Wales internationals Tomas Francis and Corey Baldwin plus long-serving winger James Short and Elvis Taione.

The Chiefs have also reinforced their long-standing link with Greene King IPA Championship neighbours Cornish Pirates through sending six highly-rated young players to Mennaye Field on loan.

These include second row Lewis Pearson, prop Patrick Schickerling, lock Cory Teague and centre Tommy Wyatt who played for the second-tier club last season plus prop forwards James Kenny and Alfie Petch.

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AM 9 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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