Votu deal nears completion

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is hopeful of completing the signing of Fijian international Watisoni Votu within the next week.

The Aviva Premiership club have been pursuing the 27-year-old back for much of the current season, but a drawn out visa application has meant his arrival at Sandy Park has been delayed.

That application, however, appears to be nearing completion after Lautoka-born Votu travelled with club officials to the UK Border Agency in Cardiff on Monday,

"He's in the country and we're hoping having taken him to the UK Border Agency on Monday, all the necessary paperwork will be finalised shortly. As far as we are concerned, it's now all systems go and we hope to hear back from the agency in the next week to 10 days, after which we hope to then formally register him as an Exeter player."

Should the Votu move be approved, the talented back will be Exeter's second Fijian star within their ranks, pitting himself alongside Sireli Naqelevuki.

Both Votu and Naqelevuki featured for Fiji in the recent autumn international against England at Twickenham.