Premiership club raids South African university team for rare front-row talent
Rob Baxter is never one to shy away from spreading a wide recruitment net.
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter is never one to shy away from spreading a wide net when recruiting talent and he has done precisely that with his latest signing.
On Thursday, the Premiership club announced the signing of South African front-rower Ethan Burger, who will join the side until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Ethan Burger signs for Exeter Chiefs
Burger heads to the United Kingdom with no senior professional action under his belt having played much of his rugby for the University of Pretoria, Tuks in the Varsity Cup, who he skippered.
A statement from Exeter confirmed that Burger was spotted by the Chiefs coaches for his potential and will get the opportunity to impress in the Premiership Rugby Cup and potentially secure a long-term contract.
The front-rower will add a rare versatility to the Exeter pack with his ability to play both loosehead prop and hooker and is a prospect that Baxter is eager to see in action.
“People we’ve been working with knew we were looking for a big, mobile front-row forward,” the Chiefs boss explained.
“Ethan became available as he was starting to finish his university studies and we see him as someone with probably the potential to play both loosehead and hooker, so he’s here on a short-term basis initially for the rest of the season for us to see his potential.
“Hopefully we’ll start to see that now and he can have some involvement perhaps in our friendly against Australian touring side Stockman Rugby and then going into the Premiership Rugby Cup.
“Then once we get up and running, it will be for him to take an opportunity. I think people will be quite excited with his power and speed. So we’ve just got to get him settled in now and ready to play.”
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Realising a dream
It will be Burger’s first taste of a senior professional set-up but he does arrive at Sandy Park with some provincial pedigree having represented the Bulls at U21 level as well as his experience in a highly competitive Varsity Cup in South Africa.
The 24-year-old says that he is keen to prove himself at this level and realise his dream of playing abroad.
“Getting the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing club is a dream come true. Exeter Chiefs are one of the best teams in England with an amazing track record,” he said.
“Being from South Africa, all players dream of playing overseas. And to get the opportunity to play in England at Chiefs is an opportunity like no other.
“So, it really wasn’t a hard decision at all, I think the club’s history, the great coaches that are here and the amazing talent are all huge pulling factors that made it so much easier to join the Chiefs because I know it’s an amazing environment for my own growth and development as a player.
“I’m extremely excited to play in the Premiership, it’s one of the most prestigious competitions in the northern hemisphere and in the world. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to play in the league and I look forward to making the most of it.
“The main goal that I have and want to achieve is to prove to my coaches, to my teammates and to myself that I am good enough to compete at this level.
“I want to show that I have what it takes to be a part of this team and that I am a player worth investing in because I don’t plan on leaving any time soon. I plan on being a Chief for a long time.”
