Exeter Chiefs manager Rob Baxter finds himself facing a dilemma, with at least two of his three starting hookers set to leave Sandy Park when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Rumors suggest a third hooker could also be considering packing his bags, jeopardizing his recruitment plans and forcing him to fundamentally reconsider his strategies as clubs begin to step up their post-season transfer plans Christmas and New Year.
Former Cornish Pirates and Wasps player Dan Frost is set to be the first to leave the club, having apparently agreed to return to one of his former clubs, Bath, for next season.
Best South African XV not representing South African teams | RPTV
Robbie Fleck and Nick Mallett choose their best South African XV playing in the Champions Cup, but not representing South African teams. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV.
Watch now
Taunton-born Frost, 27, has started 12 of his 13 games this season, scoring five tries. He joined Devon in October 2022 when Wasps were sold out, initially on a short-term deal before signing a two-year contract.
He could be followed by Wales-qualified player Jack Innard, who is on Warren Gatland’s radar for an unexpected call-up during the Six Nations campaign which begins at the end of the month. Innard, a 29-year-old former England Under-20 international who scored two tries in the 2018 Anglo-Welsh Cup win over Bath, joined the Chiefs in 2013. He has also had loan spells at Launceston, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion.
This season he has appeared in ten matches for the Chiefs, all as a substitute, including yesterday’s defeat against Leicester Tigers (28-15), and also scored a try against Pirates in the Premiership Cup.
Innard had considered a move to Japan, but Welsh regions are watching, encouraged by Gatland, who is leaving nothing to chance in an attempt to reverse last year’s disastrous trend.
Finally, it appears that club captain and Exeter native Jack Yeandle, who was recruited from Doncaster Knights 13 years ago and celebrated his 35th birthday before Christmas, is yet to receive any offers for next season.
Our editors use AI to help them deliver fresh items from trusted sources to our users. If you find any image or content that is inappropriate, please contact us via DMCA form and we will promptly remove it. / Our editors use AI to help them offer our readers fresh articles from reliable sources. If you find an image or content inappropriate, please contact us via the DMCA form and we’ll remove it promptly.
