Sam swoop: Hidalgo-Clyne signed by Exeter Chiefs

Exeter have announced the signing of Scotland international Sam HidalgoClyne.

The scrum-half will join Chiefs on a two-year deal from French Top 14 club Lyon ahead of next season.

The 26-year-old follows his compatriot, lock Jonny Gray, to Sandy Park for next term, while Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is already part of the Exeter squad.

He is set to fill the vacancy left by Australian scrumhalf Nic White, who will leave Exeter at the end of this season.

“I am very excited by the move,” said Hidalgo-Clyne, who won the last of his 12 caps against Argentina in 2018.

“I’ve watched how the Chiefs have done and how successful the club have become over the last few years. They play a great brand of rugby, everyone appears to enjoy themselves and they are a team who clearly want to win things.

“They have a quality squad already assembled there and, with guys like Jonny coming in as well, it’s only going to get better.”

Meanwhile, Gloucester back Tom Marshall has agreed a new deal with the Gallagher Premiership club.

Full-back or wing Marshall, who joined the club in 2015, previously had Super Rugby stints with the Crusaders and Chiefs in New Zealand.

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said: “Tom has been playing his best rugby since he arrived at the club.

“His ability to cover a number of positions across the back-line have made him a key member of the squad, and we are all delighted that he has agreed to extend his contract.”