New deals for Exeter Chiefs first team favourites

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after two of his first team squad this week committed their futures to the club until 2015, wrirtes Mark Stevens.

Hooker and Exeter Daily blogger Chris Whitehead has agreed a two-year extension, whilst young prop Luke Cowan-Dickie – who had another year to run on his academy contract – has also penned new terms with the Aviva Premiership outfit.

Whitehead, 26, joined the Chiefs in 2009 from London Wasps and has since gone on to feature 50 times for the club in all competitions; whilst Cowan-Dickie – who has played four times for the Exeter first team – is now into his second full season at Sandy Park having been part of the club’s academy structure at Truro College.

Commenting on the deals, Baxter said of Whitehead (pictured left): “Chris is what I like about the way things have gone for us. He wasn’t part of our promotion-winning team, but he came into that set-up very quickly and was one of the guys we looked to recruit based on his performances in the Championship against us whilst he was on loan at London Welsh.

“It’s been a nice story of a gradual progression. It’s not like he went straight into the side, he had to fight it out with other good hookers for quite a long time. This season and last season he’s been getting a lot of game time and it’s great for us that he’s still fighting it out with two other very good hookers and that Jack Yeandle is here now and he’s doing as well as he’s doing."

For the full story, click here: http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/new-deals-for-front-row-duo/