Future looks bright, says Baxter

Having five players named in England’s training squad bodes well for Exeter Chiefs’ future, according to head coach Rob Baxter.

Tom Johnson is joined in the 38-man squad by the uncapped Sam Hill, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie, who has won his first senior call-up.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster is due to announce on Monday lunchtime which players will feature against the Barbarians the following Sunday as well as the tour party for the three-Test series against New Zealand.

Whether they make it into the final squad or not, Baxter (pictured) thinks it will be a great experience for the four uncapped youngsters to work under the England coaches and gain more experience after graduating from the club’s academy.

“Any rugby experience, if you’re open to it as a player and look around, adapt and develop, recognise the good stuff and the not so good stuff and put it all together, will be very good for you,” said the Sandy Park head coach.

“The important thing for us from a club perspective is that it’s great to see that playing in Exeter doesn’t mean you won’t get international recognition.

“For five guys – in effect what could be a third of a starting team – to be in an England training camp is great recognition for us. It’s what the top clubs have been getting year in, year out and we’ve got it after four years in the Premiership.

“That’s fantastic and bodes well for the future.”

England winger Jack Nowell would have been part of the squad had he not been ruled out by a knee operation.

Baxter expects the 21-year-old to be ready for the start of next season, along with prop Brett Sturgess, who has not played this year due to a serious knee injury.

Lock Damian Welch has also had surgery after end the last campaign with an issue with one of his ankles.

“Jack Nowell has had his operation and all went pretty well so he’s starting the full-on part of his rehab now,” said Baxter.

“We’re hoping Brett Sturgess (pictured) should be right for the start of the season. Brett’s been the forgotten man a little bit this season, he got injured with a bad injury and people almost haven’t realised we haven’t had him available for much of the season.

“He’s been working really hard on his rehab and is in the final stages of that during the off-season and at the start of pre-season so it’ll be great to have him back fully fit.

“Damian Welch has had an ankle tidy-up, which was something that was troubling him a fair bit towards the end of the season but he just got on with it, got himself on the training pitch and game pitch and did a good job for us.

“There are a few guys with niggles who don’t need operations, but have their programmes to get on top of those and making sure they’re all okay.”