Coen Signs First Contract with Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs and Ben Coen have put pen to paper on the young fly half’s first contract ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Coen was one of four Chiefs Academy players who recently won the World Rugby U20 Championship with England U20 alongside Chiefs senior coach Haydn Thomas.

The young fly-half, who has been a member of the Chiefs Academy since he was 15 years old, is delighted to have signed his first contract with the club he grew up following.

“It’s a dream come true to sign with the Chiefs. Being a local lad, I was always a massive supporter of the club growing up. So, to sign a contract with the club is very special and I am looking forward to the future ahead.

“This season, I just want to play as much rugby as I can – whether that’s for the Chiefs or the university. I want to learn as much as I can and develop my game so I can take it to the next level.”

The half-back captured attention following an influential impact on last season’s BUCS Super Rugby final where EURFC emerged victorious by a single point against Leeds Beckett with the half back slotting two conversions and three penalties.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter is proud to have another player progressing to their next step in the Chiefs’ player pathway.

“We’re delighted to have agreed a long-term contract with Ben – his first contract with us. He was a good player coming through our Academy and he followed our advice to follow our pathway into the University of Exeter.

“He worked extremely hard to break through into the university’s first team, becoming a very influential player for them for a large part of the season and that put him in front of the England selectors. He got selected for the recent World Cup and went on to be a big part of the U20s title-winning side.

“I can’t talk highly enough of his character and his desire to battle his way through to earning a contract. I’m delighted for him, but he’s very much been the type of person that went out and earned it.

“Our academy coaches worked closely with him, so congratulations to them as well for helping him to bring his game on to the level it is at now. But I really must say that it’s been Ben’s dedication and commitment to working hard and fighting for his place in teams that’s a real credit to him and I think that’ll hold him in very good stead going forward.”