Exeter swoop for Cardiff ’s Harris

CARDIFF Rugby hooker Iestyn Harris has become the latest Welsh man to make the move to Exeter Chiefs, becoming the club’s fourth new signing ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Despite having signed for next season, the 23-year-old forward arrives at Sandy Park immediately, although he is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, but could make his debut before the end of the current season.

Former Wales U20s international Harris joins Leinster duo Jack Dunne and Rory O’Loughlin, as well as South African Aidon Davis from the Cheetahs who will all arrive in the summer.

A product of Cardiff’s academy set-up, Harris made his first-team debut for the club last season, coming off the bench in the Guinness Pro 14 encounter with Leinster in Dublin.

He featured again later in the season in the away game at Benetton, whilst this season started for the Welsh region in their Heineken Champions Cup encounter at home to Toulouse.

Baxter said: “We were looking to add a hooker to the senior squad for next season and Iestyn’s name was one of those we looked at. His agent sent me a few games of him playing, I had a good look at those, and I liked what I saw.

“After that, he came down to the club, we did his medical, we had a chat, and he came across very well. Talking with Iestyn, he just looks like of those guys who has an ambition, a dream, a drive, just to be the best player he can be. He’s played this season in the Champions Cup and he ticks a lot of the boxes I like to see in a young player.

“I’m grateful to Dai Young and Cardiff for releasing him early, so that he can come down here and finish off the final bits of his rehab on his shoulder injury, as well as get integrated into what we do here at the club.

“With Luke Cowan-Dickie still sidelined and with Iestyn himself getting close to return, there could be an opportunity for him to break into the first team before the end of the season.”