Aviva Premiership Rugby 2017/18 Season Preview - Exeter Chiefs

IMAGE VIA EXETER CHIEFS

Stadium – Sandy Park

Director of Rugby – Rob Baxter

Captain – Jack Yeandle

Last Season – Champions

INS & OUTS

Aviva Premiership Rugby champions Exeter Chief have decided against making massive changes, but instead fine tune in certain areas with Matt Kvesic coming from Gloucester Rugby.

The 25-year-old flanker will be hoping this move will help to force his way back into Eddie Jones’ England plans.

INS – James Freeman (Jersey Reds), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Tom O’Flaherty (Ospreys), Toby Salmon (Rotherham Titans), Wilhelm van der Sluys (Southern Kings), Nic White (Montpellier).

OUTS – Will Hooley (Bedford Blues), Dave Lewis (Harelquins), Geoff Parling (Melbourne Rebels), Damian Welch (Cardiff Blues), Ben White (Cardiff Blues), Niko Matawalu (released), Matt Jess, Tom Johnson, Haydn Thomas (all retired).

Verdict

Last season Baxter’s men finally completed the fairytale story from the Championship to become the best club rugby team in England.

📸 @jacknowell and Rob Baxter offer the Blue Steel pose at today's @premrugby launch at Twickenham #avivapremlaunch

A post shared by Exeter Chiefs (@officialexeterchiefs) on Aug 24, 2017 at 2:13pm PDT

However, with signing only a few players, and in my opinion rightly so, it’s hard to see them continue to compete with stronger Wasps, Saracens and Leicester Tigers sides. On the other hand, they haven’t lost a major first team player and the inclusion of Kvesic, who’s hungry to prove himself to England boss Jones, could be a major weapon this season.

Prediction – 5th