After a long wait, the new season is soon to begin. More excitingly, new signings are being announced all over the country and it’s looking to be one of the most exhilarating years in the battle for victory. For those itching for the Premiership to start, it might be good to get to know your club’s new faces a little better.
Exeter Chiefs have failed to make it into the Premiership top four in the past few years, but won silverware in the 2013/14 season when they were crowned LV= Cup champions. On the back of this achievement, Rob Baxter will introduce these new signings into the team quickly and efficiently so that the campaign for next season can get under way and they can hopefully start stamping their mark on the higher end of the table.
Aviva Premiership Exeter Chiefs Signings
Thomas Waldrom
Age: 31
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 17st 6lbs
Position: Number 8
Leaving Leicester Tigers after four years and more than 100 appearances, Waldrom moves to Chiefs where he will compete for the number eight spot with Dave Ewers. The fan favourite played for the Hurricanes and Crusaders in Super Rugby for a total of six years before moving to the English Premiership in 2010. Despite being born in New Zealand, he discovered he could qualify to represent England due to ancestry and has gained five international caps after his debut in 2012 against South Africa.
Moray Low
Age: 29
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 19st 7lbs
Position: Prop
The first of two props to be replacing Tui and Mitchell who left Exeter at the end of last season, Low will bring great amounts of experience to the squad. After progressing through the Scottish youth and ‘A’ teams, he made his senior squad debut as a replacement in the 2009 Six Nations versus France. Later that year, in an Autumn test against Fiji, he made his first international start and was awarded Man of the Match for his impressive display of rugby during the game. At club level, Low has over 150 caps for Glasgow Warriors since his first appearance in 2006, and has scored more than 40 tries in his eight years there.
Tomas Francis
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 21st 2lbs
Position: Prop
Moving from London Scottish, where he appeared 21 times last season, Francis has huge potential to offer. His ability to control a set piece with his strength means he’s an exciting prospect who can develop his young talent at Chiefs. Whilst playing for Doncaster from 2012-13, he made nine starts and came off the bench twice, alongside studying during his last year of university.
Mitch Lees
Age: 25
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 18st 13lbs
Position: Back Row
Lees moved to England in 2013 after a successful stint at Sydney’s Eastwood Rugby Club. The Australian back-rower then spent a season at London Welsh, where he made over 20 appearances. As a confident ball carrier, Lees steps up to the Premiership and arrives at Sandy Park as a direct replacement for France-bound Romana Graham.
Elvis Taione
Age: 31
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 17st 9lbs
Position: Hooker
Hoping that his exposure in the Premiership will develop his game and land him a spot in Tonga’s World Cup squad, Taione joins Exeter from Jersey Rugby, for whom he has played 27 times. The hooker has experience in the Super Rugby with Western Force and Waratahs as well as having 10 caps for Tonga since his debut in 2012. The departure of Chris Whitehead leaves the competition for the number-two shirt wide open, a chance for Taione to get precious game-time.
Ryan Caldwell
Age: 29
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 17st 6lbs
Position: Back Row
The Irish lock began his professional career in 2003 as part of Ulster’s development squad, where he made 80 appearances before moving to Bath in 2011. 45 caps later, Caldwell has signed a one year contract with Chiefs and will help fill the gaps left by James Hanks and Tom Hayes. His experience extends internationally after he came through the ranks with the Irish age-groups to gain two full caps for Ireland in 2009.
Adam Hughes
Age: 24
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 14st 9lbs
Position: Winger
Able to also play at fullback and centre, Hughes has played for Wales Under-16’s, 18’s and 20’s and featured in the team that travelled to Argentina for the 2010 Junior World Championship. He made his debut for Newport Gwent Dragons in 2010 versus Cardiff and has gone on to achieve 80 caps, before he joined Bristol in February of this year. Finishing last season with the Championship side, the winger moves to Exeter on a two-year deal.
Chrysander Botha
Age: 26
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 12st 4lbs
Position: Fullback
Botha made his debut for Namibia in 2008 and has played in the 2011 World Cup, where he scored a try against Fiji during the campaign. He has 15 caps for Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup, as well as having experience playing in the Super Rugby with the Lions since 2013. With Luke Arscott heading to Bath ahead of next season, Botha will compete with rising star Jack Nowell at fullback.
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