Talented Bath playmaker joins Exeter Chiefs on two-year deal

The 22-year-old has made 14 senior appearances for Bath since graduating from the University of Bath with a degree in sport and exercise science.

Harris said: “I’m really excited to be joining Exeter Chiefs. It’s a club with a strong identity, an amazing fan base and a record of competing at the highest level.

“After speaking with the coaches, I felt this was the right environment for a fresh start. I enjoy the style of rugby Exeter plays, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s ambitions in the coming seasons.

“I’m excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to get started with the boys.”

A former pupil of Millfield School, which is affiliated with Bath, Harris progressed through the university’s player pathway while representing Bath at U18 level.

In the summer of 2022, he earned a call-up to the club’s senior Academy squad.

He made his first-team debut during the 2022/23 Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, and his performances throughout the season saw him named the club’s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

The following season, Harris made his first Gallagher Premiership start, featuring against Leicester Tigers on New Year’s Eve.

Comfortable at both fullback and fly-half, he has demonstrated versatility across the backline.

Having represented England at U18, U19 and U20 levels, Harris’s recent progress has been disrupted by injury.

However, he is now eager to move past those setbacks and make an impact with the Chiefs next season.

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’ve had a good look at Sam for a while now. He’s a guy who has had an impressive career trajectory from the Bath Rugby academy into the England U20s and then into the Bath first team.

“He’s had the misfortune of having back-to-back injuries, which are now all just about sorted out. So, we’re expecting an awful lot of him in the future.

“Sam is one of those guys who has exceptional talent, so we’re hoping that we can get him a period of being injury-free and help his development into more senior rugby.

“He’s got some real strengths in his game. His ball-playing ability as second receiver, having played a lot in the fly-half position, is impressive. He’s got very good speed, is very evasive and good in the air.

"He’s one of those guys we think can potentially come through and grow into a very good rugby player, and we hope that’s something we can help him achieve here at Exeter.”