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Exeter have signed Australia forward Dave Dennis on a three-year-deal from next season
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The 30-year-old has won 18 caps for the Wallabies
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Dennis is the second Australian to sign for Exeter after prop Greg Holmes
Exeter Chiefs have completed the signing of Australia and Waratah forward Dave Dennis on a three-year-deal from the start of next season
Dennis is the second Aussie to sign for Exeter after prop Greg Holmes agreed to join them from Queensland Reds in January.
He is Rob Baxter’s third major addition for next season after Bath fly-half Ollie Devoto also committed to the Chiefs.
“I’ve had an unbelievable time with the Waratahs and I owe them so much for what I’ve done in terms of my career,” Dennis said.
“The opportunity, however, to try something new in Exeter was one I was wanted to do and having spoke to a lot of people about the Chiefs, all of them have been very positive and told me it will be a great move for me.”
Dennis has played over 90 times for Waratahs in Super Rugby since making his debut back in 2007.
“I’ve not made any secret of the fact that squad-wise we were probably a lock light this year, so we have been having a good look around,” said Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.
“We’ve known Dave has been available for a little while and obviously we have had a good look at the way he plays; how he’s performed in the past and his leadership skills, and we think he will be a good fit for us.”
The 30-year-old former Waratahs club captain made his decision before Christmas after speaking to Exeter head coach Rob Baxter and will no doubt be picking the brain of his Waratahs teammate Dean Mumm, who captained and chalked up 70 appearances for the northern hemisphere side.
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“Speaking to him he had nothing but positive things to say about the Chiefs and his time over in England,” he added.
“He told me a lot of about the history of the club and the direction the Chiefs were heading in.
“He also mentioned about how the club had a great academy system and how they had brought through a lot of the guys who are now starting regularly each week. I think that’s important in any club to have local guys coming through and it’s something we have done here at the Waratahs.”