Baxter's joy as Ewers commits to Chiefs

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after Dave Ewers today pledged his long-term future to the Aviva Premiership club.

The highly-rated back-row forward has penned a new two-year contract extension, tying him to the Devon club until the end of the 2017-18 season.

News of the 24-year-old agreeing terms on the new deal comes just a week after club captain jack Yeandle put pen to paper on a similar deal.

Understandably, Baxter is overjoyed to lock down the future of Ewers, who last season was named the club’s Player of the Year and also made it into the Premiership Dream Team following some destructive on-field displays.

His impressive performances not only earned him rave reviews here at the Chiefs, but further afield he was called up to play for the England Saxons and was unlucky to narrowly miss out on Stuart Lancaster’s Rugby World Cup training squad.

“There is no doubt Dave is one of the best young back-row forwards in the country,” said Baxter. “I think in many people’s opinion he was unlucky not to be in or around that World Cup group come the end of the season.

“If Dave continues to improve in the way that he is and plays in the manner that he plays and does things as well as he does – particularly if we show success as a side – then I am sure that international recognition is just around the corner for him.

“That will be down to Dave working hard and being consistent, and it will also be down to the team and the club performing well and staying at the right end of the table. I’ve said many times that individual success often follows team success, and that is the goal for us as a team and many of the individuals here too.”

A product of the club’s highly successful academy system, which has also brought through the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell, Sam Hill and Jack Nowell in recent years, Ewers has come a significantly long way since his club debut away to Newport in November 2009.

“It is a great compliment to the academy system and a credit to the coaching too – I know Rob Hunter has worked extremely closely with Dave over the last couple of years and been a big influence in him,” continued Baxter.

“But what you have to remember too is that it is a great credit to the individual. It isn’t easy breaking into a Premiership side. It takes talent, of course, but also a lot of hard work and dedication. A lot of the academy lads have to come through tough times. They may come in for an LV= Cup game and the next week are back at their loan club.

“That can be mentally quite testing and it takes good characters to come through that. It feels like it is there but then gets taken away, so you have to give credit for them having the character and drive to win regular opportunities.”

Looking to the future, Baxter now wants Harare-born Ewers to not only maintain the high standards of last season, but to instead raise the bar even more over the next few years.

Baxter added: “I think international recognition has to be the focus for him. If you know Dave, he is a pretty calm character and he knows consistency with us and his own consistency while helping drive the side forward is the way to do it.

“He has got a great opportunity playing alongside internationals like Geoff Parling who he can talk to. Julian Salvi and Tom Waldrom have had a great effect on him in the back row too, so he has great people to learn from.

“Ultimately, the way to get recognition though is being part of the team that drives the team forward. The two or three best teams in the country tend to be the ones with the most internationals in it for one reason or another, and you can’t run away from that.

“It’s our responsibility to help him get into the England team and it is his responsibility to help us go as far as we can, and the two are very closely linked.”