That’s why ahead of the new 2024/25 season, Rob Baxter has bolstered his Exeter squad with not just one, but two, as the Chiefs look to make their mark both domestically and in Europe.
Last season, Ethan Roots was added to the playing roster at Sandy Park, the imposing backrow forward drafted in from the Ospreys to help fill the sizeable void of the departed Dave Ewers.
Not much was known about the Auckland-born ace at that time, but that changed within months as he quickly settled into his new surroundings in Devon.
His on-field performances were certainly impressive, helping the Chiefs to claim some notable early scalps, including the likes of Saracens, Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears, while in Europe Toulon were also taken down on their own patch.
Baxter was glowing in his praise of his latest acquisition, but so too was England head coach Steve Borthwick, who not only called the player into his training squad, but handed him the first of his four Test caps in the Six Nations clash with Italy in January.
A man of the match display in Rome underlined his rapid growth, which has continued to flourish during the course of this year.
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