Seven Players Sign First Contracts with Chiefs

Seven young players have put pen to paper with Exeter Chiefs as Director of Rugby Rob Baxter looks to foster future talent.

The group of aspiring players includes Josh Mann, Israel Akinrowo, Nick Lilley, Nic Allison, Campbell Ridl, Isaac Godfrey and Jack Forsyth.

All seven already possess experience within the Chiefs Academy or the DPP programme of Chiefs’ development pathway.

The relationship between the different entities which form the player pathway are integral to the constant development of Baxter’s squad.

“This group of lads is a perfect indicator of our pathway and academy really working across all systems and all entry points,” Baxter said.

“There’s a nice mixture of guys who have come through our academy long term, from being based in Devon and Cornwall with our centres in Truro and Exeter. There are also guys who have taken the opportunity from outside the area to come to the university and some others who we’ve actively looked to recruit to bring them into our pathway.

“It’s a really good mix of everything we’re trying to put in place for our young guys. All of them are taking different opportunities in different ways, and we think they’re going to be a really strong academy group. And we’d really love to see them all featuring in the first team – particularly at Premiership and Champions Cup level – in the next few years.”

Described by their Chiefs Academy coaches as hard workers – with their rugby and their academics – all seven players have applied themselves to now be in the position to progress their educational and sporting journeys with the University of Exeter.

Additionally, four of the players – Lilley, Mann, Ridl and Allison – have been named as part of the England Rugby Under 20s Elite Player Squad for the 2024/25 season.

Mann, Akinrowo and Lilley have all long been part of the Chiefs academy with the former based at Truro College and the latter two at Exeter College. Entering the pathway via the DPP programme, all have experienced success with the Academy at U15s and U16s level as well as all being part of the 2024 England U18s Six Nations squad.

Additionally, Ridl and Allison – who featured for the university team last season – were included in the England U19s set up earlier this year.

Forsythe is one of those who Baxter actively recruited – bringing the player into the Exeter set-up following his early career start with the Worcester Warriors academy. Now a prolific carrier and stalwart in EURFC colours.

Godfrey finds himself in a similar position as the likes of Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins who were attracted to Exeter from a Welsh set-up. Having played for Senghenydd RFC for his club rugby, the youngster also represented Cardiff Schools as well as Cardiff U16s and U18s.