Exeter Chiefs looking to ‘invest’ in potential new recruit who can make a ‘real difference’
Rob Baxter's side have lost all seven of their opening Premiership games
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has revealed the club “have got an amount they can invest” in a potential recruit, as they look to turn their season around.
Baxter’s side have lost all five of their opening Premiership fixtures this season, including last weekend’s shock defeat to Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.
Exeter Chiefs to hit the market?
The Chiefs have been fairly busy in the market already this year. New Zealand back Tamati Tua, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Jimmy Roots, Kwenzo Blose and Martin Maloney joined the club in pre-season, and Los Pumas lock Franco Molina and South African prop Ethan Burger have also been drafted in mid-season; however, Baxter detailed they have freed up some cash to potentially bring in another player.
“The discussions I have with Tony Rowe (Chiefs CEO), we have got an amount we can invest this season,” Baxter admitted. “But it has to be a player we can go ‘right this guy can make a real difference and make a change’. We could do that.”
He added: “Our feeling is – business-wise – things are on the up now. Our plan is our investment levels in the squad and in our playing side will be going up from next season onwards.”
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Baxter also gave a frank assessment on the state of his current squad, stating they aren’t getting the best out of them at this current moment.
“So the future, that part of it is looking OK. What we have to do now is do the best with what we’ve got at the moment, and we’re not doing the best with what we’ve got now,” he said.
Elsewhere, Exeter have been linked with a shock move for former scrum-half Nic White; but Baxter downplayed these rumours.
Chiefs ‘miles off salary cap’
Exeter have seen a huge overhaul of their playing squad over the past few seasons. Only two of the 23 that last won the Premiership title remain with the Devonians, but a large crop of youngsters have since been given valuable experience.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ross Vintcent have all come from the fringes of the squad to earn international honours, and Rusi Tuima and Greg Fisilau have also been called into the England camp at various points in the past season.
This focus on youth has meant they haven’t hit the market as hard as other sides in the Premiership, and the director of rugby admitted his side are “miles off the salary cap”.
“We’ve spent a little more this year than last year, but we’re miles off the salary cap,” Baxter said.
Could Exeter turn to the market in the near future?
