Exeter Chiefs have today bolstered their options in the front-row with the signing of Dan Frost from Wasps.
The 25-year-old hooker joins the Chiefs immediately and will be a travelling reserve ahead of tomorrow’s Gallagher Premiership trip to Gloucester.
Taunton-born Frost – who has previously represented Exeter in the A League – is one of several players who have been signed up by clubs across Europe in the wake of Wasps going into administration earlier this month.
Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, said: “We’ve known Dan for some time, having watched him play initially at Taunton and then down at the Cornish
, where he was linking up with a few of our guys who were on dual-reg down there.
“He did very well at both those clubs, especially the Pirates, and it was off that form that he picked up his move to Wasps. At the time, it didn’t quite work for us to bring him into the club, but we’ve watched him closely ever since.
“He’s done very well establishing himself in the Premiership and he’s done well when he’s come up against us. Obviously, everyone is aware of the situation at Wasps and with Luke Cowan-Dickie also away currently with England, we felt it was right to bring Dan in to add to that pool of hookers.
“He’s here on injury dispensation as Iestyn Harris is still recovering after having back surgery, but from what we’ve seen so far, I think he will settle in very well. He knows quite a few of our guys already and he’s done well picking up information this week.”
Baxter added: “What I like about him is he’s a player who likes to work hard; he’s good on the ball and he has a lot of good qualities within his game. What this opportunity does is give him that platform to go out and show those qualities and who knows, it may lead to something more longer-term down the line.
“Already, he’s settled in well within the group, he’s a travelling reserve on Friday – and I don’t think it will be too long before we get him involved in that match-day 23.”
As well as Frost, Baxter has not ruled out looking further into adding potential players from Wasps with Exeter-born Launchbury looking for a new club.
“There are lots of players looking for work, looking for clubs, especially young players,” said Baxter. “I feel for all of them as it’s a terrible situation they find themselves in. Dan is obviously one of those players that was establishing himself within the Premiership and the opportunity has arisen for us to bring him in.
“There are others that we are looking at, mainly younger players, as it is easier to work around the scale of their contracts. However, there is some really exciting talent out there, so why wouldn’t you be interested in it?”
“Exeter exodus” – Chiefs could lose five key players next summer
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter certainly has a tough balancing act on his hands to keep his squad intact ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Director fo Rugby Rob Baxter had to let the likes of Jonny Hill, Sam Skinner and Tom O’Flaherty leave the club this summer after being unable to match their wage offers elsewhere due to the reduced £5m salary cap all Premiership clubs are operating under this season.
The potential departure of at least one club stalwart and as many as five next summer means it could be the end of an era at Sandy Park.
#1. Jack Nowell
The Rugby Paper report the star winger’s CV is currently doing the rounds in the French Top 14 with the 29-year-old out of contract at Sandy Park at the end of the season.
Responding to the speculation, Nowell has revealed he’d love to stay at Sandy Park, but added he must always put his ‘family first’.
Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, he said: “I won’t go to another Premiership side,”
“I want to stay at Exeter, but I’m out of contract, there’s stuff going on with the salary cap and I’ve got a growing family. And I’ll be 30 after the World Cup. I’m in talks with the club at the moment; ideally I’d stay but I’m not too sure what’s going on. The first thing for me is my family.
“My only option if I’m in England is to stay. France, Japan… I went out to Japan for the World Cup – it was an amazing country. I’d like to give Japan a go over France but, obviously, anything could happen.
“There will potentially be a time when I go somewhere else but my roots are here and I’d always end up back here. At the same time, I am quite ‘out there’ as a person and I like my family to be like that so, if I’m given the chance to experience something else with them, then I have to take it.
“The flipside is, if I can get stuff sorted here and I’m still in a position where I can look after the family. I love the club dearly and my main option would be to stay, if I can get something sorted.”