The asking price of an England hooker
TRANSFER NEWS: Four clubs are competing for the signature of England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
The 113kg hooker – rated the second best in the Premiership and among the top 10 in the world according to the RugbyPass Index – came through the Penzance-Newlyn (Pirates) Minis section and considered alongside Jack Nowell as one of the biggest successes of the Chiefs academy system.
The Cornishman preference is to stay at his him club of Exeter Chiefs, but a significant offer from a Premiership rival could yet turn his head.
And he has plenty of offers to choose from too.
RugbyPass reports that four clubs have made offers for the Truro born front-row forward – Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors, Harlequins and of course his current team, Exeter Chiefs.
Of the four, Harlequins are thought to be favourites to win the race to sign the 25-year-old. The West London side’s incumbent at hooker is veteran Dave Ward, who will be 34 when the 2019/2020 season starts.
A RugbyPass source has suggested the salary that would get the young front row forward over the line is in the region of £350,000 per annum.
Time is on Cowan-Dickie’s side, and he’s not expected to make an official announcement until the new year.
The Chiefs are remaining coy about his future at the club.
“Talks are ongoing,” Rob Baxter told DevonLive this week. “No decision has been made – I can’t tell you he has signed or that he has not signed – but it is an ongoing situation.
“Where the clubs being named have come from, I don’t know. It is not something that I am aware of.”
Cowan-Dickie has fallen down the England Number 2 pecking order due to injury problems, making just 9 appearances for the Red Rose since picking up his first cap in 2015. His lack of current involvement with England would if anything could be seen as a bonus going into 2019.
In 2013, he was one of five fellow Chiefs players to help England Under-20s lift the Junior World Championships in France.
By Ian Cameron, RugbyPass
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