Exeter sign young Aussie prop
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Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their front-row options with the signing of young prop Alec Hepburn from Australian club Perth Spirit.
The 21-year-old forward, who has previously enjoyed spells with Wasps and London Welsh, has signed a deal that will keep him at Sandy Park until 2017.
Brought into the Chiefs this week by head coach Rob Baxter, Hepburn was a member of the victorious England Under-20s side that won the Junior World Championship in France two years ago, lining up alongside current Exeter young guns Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joel Conlon, Sam Hill, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell.
His arrival in Devon has been welcomed by Baxter, who believes the Perth-born youngster has the potential to reach the very top end of the game.
Baxter said: “Alec was in a bit of a strange rugby situation. He played in the England Under-20s World Cup-winning side with some of our lads, was involved with Wasps and on loan at London Welsh.
“He went to Australia for personal family reasons, but when we knew he was coming back to the UK we had a good look at him in those Championship games and had a chat with our lads who played with him for England Under-20s and it all came back very positively that he’s a young player we feel has got a bright future ahead of him."
In addition to the new prop, Baxter has also secured the services of an additional two props and a loose forward who have resigned with the club.
Props Carl Rimmer and Ben Moon have put pen to paper on two-year deals, whilst loose forward Kai Horseman is extending his Sandy Park stay by another year.
The trio are the latest in a line of current Chiefs who in recent weeks have pledged their immediate futures to the Devon outfit.
Commenting on the latest news, Baxter said: “Signing Moony and Rimmer is an indication of how we think they’ve done this season.
"Over the course of the season, these guys look to me like they’re maturing and improving. Neither are particularly old for a prop and they are both coming through into regular Premiership rugby for the first time.
"That will make them better over a period of time."
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