SA prop with 'a very bright future' signs for Chiefs
NEWS: A South African prop has decided England will be the best place for his development.
On Wednesday, English club Exeter Chiefs confirmed that Ethan Burger has signed a new deal with the club ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The 25-year-old joined the Chiefs pack at the outset of the 2024/25 season, biding his time before making his debut against Bristol Bears in the PREM in October 2025.
“It was an easy decision to stay, I think we’re building something really special here at Chiefs, which I’m grateful to be a part of,” said Burger.
“The support and backing we get from our fans is unmatched. I’d love to be a part of giving back to them by securing results that we as a club strive for.
“I’ve already learned so much, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. I’m excited to see how I can push on from here as an individual player and as part of this squad.”
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The South African first caught the eye of Chiefs’ forwards coach Ross McMillan while he was playing rugby for the University of Pretoria side, Tuks Rugby.
His performances for his school also caught the eye of the Blue Bulls coaches, who included Burger in their Under-21s squad for the 2020 season.
However, after a move to Devon, Burger got his first taste of a senior rugby environment, and it seems the Chiefs’ coaching team are reaping the rewards.
“Ethan is a young, dynamic and powerful prop forward, who is clearly improving with each minute he spends on the field,” said Exeter’s Director of Rugby Rob Baxter.
“We see it with his training too, as he matures into a more experienced player. I think he’s got a very bright future and that he’ll be one of those guys who we involve more and more in the coming seasons.
“He’s got the best balance of a modern loosehead where his set-piece is developing all the time, but then he genuinely can move and get on the ball to be a dynamic ball-carrier. We see an awfully bright future for him.”
