Exeter Are Graced
Exeter have added to their playing squad ahead of the new season by signing Irishman, Eoghan Grace, on a long-term deal.
Grace can play in a variety of positions and has been signed as a versatile middle of the pitch player. It looks as though he will be cover for some stronger members of the squad ahead of what will be a very competitive season.
Exeter have done very well during the close season in preparing themselves for Premiership rugby. They have not wasted a single minute after they beat Bristol in the Championship play-off match last year and they stand a very good chance of survival.
Grace has a number of attributes that are going to make him a popular member of the club and a key member in the side. However, Exeter are still expected to struggle next season and it's important the external factors equally go in their favour.
Attributes
As already mentioned Grace is a very versatile player and versatility makes people popular at clubs. He plays in the centre of the pitch and can cover a variety of positions in that area. This means if someone gets injured during a game then Exeter have someone ready to come in.
Grace has plenty of ambition and it seems that he wants to play rugby for Ireland. To do this he will have to get in the Exeter first team and stay there, which is going to be a lot more difficult than he may think.
His pace is quite astonishing and is something that makes up for any lack of quality in another area. This is very important for a player who plays in the middle because it allows that player to get across and cover in no time at all.
Coach, Rob Baxter, said: "Eoghan is a player who I have been following now for quite some time. I first started talking to his agent before Christmas when I was looking to add hungry players to our squad. He has played some big games for Shannon and probably feels unlucky not to have progressed further in the Munster set-up."
Take For Granted
What Grace cannot do is listen to comments that compliment his game and take for granted that he will be in the team at the start of the season. There is still an air of unknown quantity around him and Exeter have a very competitive squad.
There will be players already at the club who played a lot of games during the promotion campaign last season. They will expect to be given a chance in the team this season and will not be happy if a young Irishman takes their place.
Baxter added: "We have real strength in the back-row where I am going to challenge our players to go out and attack games in the Premiership and Eoghan only adds to that strength."
Betting Advice
Exeter are looking better and better all of the time ahead of their first season in the Premiership. They have not signed as many players as the likes of Sale but they are making sensible signings that are going to help them to compete in the Premiership.
Grace is going to add to the solidity and compact nature of the team next season. This will make them more difficult to break down and defeat during individual games.
Don't be afraid to back Exeter to stay up next season because they are starting to look like a strong club that could stay in the Premiership for some years to come and this is what they deserve.
Tags: