Chiefs back Foster joins Jersey on loan

Exeter Chiefs back Mark Foster has joined Championship outfit Jersey on loan until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old is one of two new captures – alongside Mark McCrea from Irish side Connacht – which the Channel Islands club have confirmed as they look to preserve their status in English rugby’s second tier following promotion last term.

Foster, who made his debut for the Chiefs against Moseley in September 2009, has played 59 times in total for the Devon club, scoring 20 tries in the process.

Two of those tries came in Exeter’s first-ever Aviva Premiership game against his former club Gloucester in September 2010. Indeed, his touchdowns that day helped pave the way for Rob Baxter’s side to record a 22-10 win.

Colchester-born Foster enjoyed a super start with the Chiefs in the top flight – that was until he sustained a broken leg in an LV= Cup clash with Leicester Tigers in January 2011.

Foster duly battled his way back to full fitness, but has since found first team opportunities somewhat limited. This season he has played just five times, once in the Premiership when he came on against Saracens, and in all four LV= Cup games.

Commenting on the move, head coach Baxter said: “A bit like the deal with Myles Dorrian going back to Bedford recently, we have guys within the current squad who haven’t played a huge amount for us this season, but at the same time are still wanting to play rugby.

“With the A League and the LV= Cup campaigns having come to a finish, there are opportunities for guys to go out on loan somewhere and play some rugby. Jersey got in touch with us saying they were keen to get some players in; Fozzie said he was keen to play some rugby too, so in a lot of ways it was a good move for all concerned.

“I am a big believer that rugby players want to play rugby as much as they can, so Fozzie’s gone with our blessing until the end of the season, but should we need him we will be able to get him back and hopefully with some good game minutes under his belt.”

Photo courtesy of The Exeter Rugby Club / Pinnacle Photo Agency