New deals for front-row duo

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after two of his first team squad this week committed their futures to the club until 2015.

Hooker Chris Whitehead has agreed a two-year extension, whilst young prop Luke Cowan-Dickie – who had another year to run on his academy contract – has also penned new terms with the Aviva Premiership outfit.

Whitehead, 26, joined the Chiefs in 2010 from London Wasps and has since gone on to feature 50 times for the club in all competitions; whilst Cowan-Dickie – who has played four times for the Exeter first team – is now into his second full season at Sandy Park having been part of the club’s academy structure at Truro College.

Commenting on the deals, Baxter said of Whitehead (pictured): “Chris is what I like about the way things have gone for us. He wasn’t part of our promotion-winning team, but he came into that set-up very quickly and was one of the guys we looked to recruit based on his performances in the Championship against us whilst he was on loan at London Welsh.

“It’s been a nice story of a gradual progression. It’s not like he went straight into the side, he had to fight it out with other good hookers for quite a long time. This season and last season he’s been getting a lot of game time and it’s great for us that he’s still fighting it out with two other very good hookers and that Jack Yeandle is here now and he’s doing as well as he’s doing.

“It’s been a good move for Chris to come to Exeter and we’re glad it’s worked out for us both. Now, though, I think the key for Chris, like a lot of the rest of our players, is to be part of a couple of big seasons for Exeter.

“He needs to be one of those guys who’s part of a strong squad, pushing us up the table, because the majority of your England players come from the sides that win things and stay around the top for some period of time. If they drive us to the top of the league, keep us there, international recognition will come pretty quickly.”

As for England Under-20 starlet Cowan-Dickie (pictured), Baxter is equally excited about the future of the 19-year-old prop.

He added:  “Luke has been part of our academy now for a long time and he's a guy with massive potential and who we want to stay as an Exeter player for as long as possible. Right now he is starting to come the fore amongst the senior players and we are beginning to see exactly what we want from him.

"He’s one of the players you think wherever you pick him on a rugby field he can do damage because he’s an exceptional ball carrier for his age. For him to be linked to the club now for the next couple of years means he can concentrate on his development, we can concentrate on his development and look to drive him through into the senior squad as quickly as he’s ready.

“There’s no doubt he’s an exceptional talent. Physically he’s got some kind of x-factor because he knows how to harness the power of his body. What we’ve got to do is keep developing him as a player and see where things go."

Already a key figure within the England Under-20 ranks, Baxter is confident that with the right mindset and the willingness to learn from those around him, the young Cornishman has what it takes to go right to the very top of the game.

Baxter continued:  “He’s an England under-20 international now, but I want him to have every opportunity to take the next steps to being an England player. That means he’s got to work very hard to get into a Premiership side, then he’s got to keep working hard to keep those honours rolling in as the years go by.”