Planet Rugby

Exeter duo sign new deals

15th November 2012 09:50

chris whitehead exeter chiefs

New deal: Chris Whitehead

Exeter front-rowers Chris Whitehead and Luke Cowan-Dickie have signed new contracts to stay at Sandy Park.

Hooker Whitehead has agreed a two-year deal, whilst young prop Cowan-Dickie - who had another year to run on his academy contract - has also penned new terms with the Aviva Premiership outfit.

Whitehead, 26, joined the Chiefs in 2010 from London Wasps and has since gone on to feature 50 times for the club in all competitions; whilst Cowan-Dickie - who has played four times for the Exeter first team - is now into his second full season at Sandy Park having been part of the club's academy structure at Truro College.

"Chris is what I like about the way things have gone for us," said Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.

"He wasn't part of our promotion-winning team, but he came into that set-up very quickly and was one of the guys we looked to recruit based on his performances in the Championship against us whilst he was on loan at London Welsh.

"It's been a nice story of a gradual progression. It's not like he went straight into the side, he had to fight it out with other good hookers for quite a long time.

"It's been a good move for Chris to come to Exeter and we're glad it's

worked out for us both. Now, though, I think the key for Chris, like a lot of the rest of our players, is to be part of a couple of big seasons for Exeter."

19-year old prop Cowan-Dickie has starred for the England U20s and Baxter is very excited about his future.

"He's one of the players you think wherever you pick him on a rugby field he can do damage because he's an exceptional ball carrier for his age," added Baxter.

"For him to be linked to the club now for the next couple of years means he can concentrate on his development, we can concentrate on his development and look to drive him through into the senior squad as quickly as he's ready.

"There's no doubt he's an exceptional talent. Physically he's got some kind of x-factor because he knows how to harness the power of his body. What we've got to do is keep developing him as a player and see where things go."

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