New Chief on board in Exeter
Exeter Chiefs have added their first new face for the 2012/13 season with the capture of Ian Whitten from Pro12 outfit Ulster.
The 24-year-old Irish international has agreed a two-year deal with the Premiership club and is the first venture into the market for head coach Rob Baxter.
The talented centre began his senior career with Wallace High School before moving onto Queen’s University in Belfast. His skills were clear to see an early age and it was not long before he was snapped up by Ulster, who made him part of their Academy structure in 2007 having already represented Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 levels.
However, it was the 2008-09 season that proved the real breakthrough season for the Lisburn-born back who was given his first senior Ulster cap against Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup. He subsequently went on to establish himself in the side for the rest of the season, which culminated in a call-up to the Ireland squad for the mid-year tour of the United States and Canada, where he won two senior caps.
Since his debut, Whitten has featured consistently for Ulster, not only in the Pro12, but also in European competition. He has made 61 appearances to date, scoring six tries for the Irish province.
However, a new challenge in English rugby’s top flight awaits him at Sandy Park next season and it is one the player himself admits he is relishing.
“Obviously I’m delighted with the move,” he said. “It’s going to be a new challenge in a tough environment for me, but it’s one I am very much looking forward too.
“I was very impressed with the facilities at Exeter when I came over and also by all the people who seemed very friendly and made me feel very welcome. Testing myself in the Premiership is going to be great because it’s a very tough league and every week the challenge is there for you to take on.”
The big back was quick to praise the help and support he has received over the years from everyone at Ravenshill.
He added: “It is always sad to move on from a club, especially because I’ve had a lot of good times at Ulster. But I see this as a new chapter for me in my career and I want to try something different. You can see Exeter are a club with real ambition and are moving in the right direction.
“Speaking with both Rob and Ali it was all very positive and I like what they had to say. Hopefully I can bring something to the squad and help finish off some of the opportunities the team create.”
Ahead of his move, Whitten wasted little time in finding out more about his new club as he quizzed Ulster team-mates Dan Tuohy and Lewis Stevenson, both of whom previously played for the Chiefs.
“I spoke to both Dan and Lewis and they said lots of great things about the club. Also a few of the guys here played for the Irish Wolfhounds over there the other week and said how impressed they were by the place. As I said, I liked what I saw as well and the facilities look great. All I’ve heard is real positives about the place, so I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
One man delighted to have Whitten on board is coach Baxter, who commented: “He’s become available to have a look at and Ali and myself sat down and had a good look at a few of his games. He’s played the last three or four games, starting on the wing or in the centre, and we do quite like backs who can play in more than one position. It works in the way we want to play with the back line we’ve got.
“Ian’s a big, strong guy but he’s also quick and powerful. It’s nice that he’s young and still developing as a player. He’s got a lot of good rugby ahead of him, he’s probably still developing physically and his handling and kicking game is still improving, which is something we want to work on with all our players.
“All-round he suits us very well, he’s quick enough to play on the wing but also big enough and physical enough to play in the midfield.”
As is always the case, the Exeter coaching staff have left no stone unturned in vetting their latest recruit.
Baxter added: “We really liked him when we met him, he came in and did some testing and proved to be a really powerful guy. I think he’s a good player who is still developing. He’s played a lot of rugby for Ulster, he’s got a couple of caps and is there or thereabouts in Ireland.
“He probably feels he’s been held back in Ireland by having some very good players in front of him at what is at the moment a successful side, Ulster are going very well.
“Meeting him, he seemed a nice grounded guy who would fit in well. He was obviously aware of Exeter because of Lewis Stevenson and Dan Tuohy at Ulster and he came over and impressed us, both as a person and in his testing, and I’m really pleased he’s decided to join us.
“I’ve no doubt quite a few teams were looking at him and for him to decide to come to Exeter is fantastic for us and hopefully we can develop his game further and he can really enjoy playing in the Premiership and whatever European competition we’re involved in.”
