Skip to content

Welch pens Exeter deal

Image: Damian Welch: Signed two-year deal with Exeter

Exeter have added their seventh new recruit for next season with Scarlets lock Damian Welch penning a two-year deal.

Chiefs land 6ft 6ins forward

Exeter have added their seventh new recruit for next season with Scarlets lock Damian Welch signing a two-year deal. The 29-year-old forward, who stands at 6ft 6ins, arrives at Sandy Park following previous playing stints with Cardiff Blues, Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC. And Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter admits he delighted with his latest capture as he put his plans together ahead of the 2012/13 Premiership campaign. "We knew we'd have to sign a couple of second rows with the guys leaving - Peter Short, Bentos and Chad," Baxter told the club's official website. "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. "Initially I had a good look at him before he started playing professional rugby at Cardiff, but didn't quite think he was a fit for us at the time. "He got a contract with the Cardiff Blues and pre him joining the Scarlets I had another chat with him but at the time he was thinking there were potentially some Wales caps there, he was playing very well. "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."

Around Sky