Damian Welch signs for Exeter Chiefs – Rugby News Update
Damian Welch, the lock and No.8 player has joined the Exeter Chiefs ahead of the new season and becomes the seventh new signing that the club have made, after penning a two-year deal.
Chiefs' boss, Rob Baxter, was ecstatic with the new signing, saying that they had been vying for his signature for a long time.
"We've been looking at Damian for some time, I think it's the third time I've spoken to him about potentially coming to Exeter," Baxter said. "Initially I had a good look at him before he started playing professional rugby at Cardiff, didn't quite think
he was a fit for us at the time.”
Welch has previous experience in the RaboDirect PRO12 and the Heineken Cup. Exeter has also seen the exit of Peter Short, who has retired, while Chad Slade has moved to Oyonnax, a French Division Two side. The 28-year-old will link up with another new signing
Dean Mumm in the middle.
Baxter further spoke about the hunt for his signature and how desperate he was to have him at the club.
He said, “I've kept an eye on him all along and when I found out quite recently the Scarlets were prepared to release him from the second year of his contract we got onto things very quickly. He came down, did his testing again and he really is a great athlete."
Welch will not go straight into the team, and will have to contend with tough competition from Tommy Hayes, who has been outstanding as a lock in the Premiership this season, and Aly Muldowney has been a welcome surprise. However, it is expected that Mumm’s
good form this past season will earn up a call-up for the Australian national squad, which will provide Welch a chance to cement his place in the team, in the absence of another teammate.
With the experience that Welch boasts it is likely that he will be able to hold a position down in the starting team. The season is long and it affords opportunities to everyone.
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