Baxter's joy as Mumm signs again

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter today told of his delight after skipper Dean Mumm put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the Aviva Premiership club.

With the Australian international's contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, Baxter has moved swiftly to ensure the experienced forward will remain at Sandy Park for the foreseeable future.

And it's a bold statement of intent from Baxter that the Chiefs are clearly determined to ensure they keep hold of their prized assets.

Baxter said: “He’s been a fantastic signing for us since he turned up at the club in a lot of ways. I’ve spoken to a lot of people since he’s taken over the captaincy and what a good job he’s done, but first and foremost you’ve got to pin your place down as being a front-line player and he’s done that.

“While he’s been at the club he’s grown into one of the real leaders within the side. From our perspective it’s a really important signing for us. He’s been one of the form locks in the Premiership I think and he’s a stand-out performers for us every week.

“He’s one of the guys we wanted to get done and to have him done nice and early and to know we’ve got some consistency in that position is very important for us going forward.”

Since arriving from the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2011/12 season, the 29-year-old has settled well to life in the Westcountry and has underlined his proven on-field credentials with a steady stream of top quality displays.

Indeed, this season has seen Mumm not only take over the club captaincy from Tom Hayes, but together with fellow Aussie Ben White, he is currently the club's joint top try-scorer in all competitions.

Baxter has been delighted with the form of Mumm throughout his time in Devon, but feels there is still even more to come from the Auckland-born ace.

“I think what’s been brilliant with Dean is that he’s not come over having had a quite a lot of international caps and looking to see out his career, he’s worked exceptionally hard in training, he’s been very professional, he’s bought into the culture and ethic of the team right from the start and he embodies what it’s all about,” he said.

“He’s over here to be the best player he can be. One of the facets you’re starting to see is that he’s there and scoring tries. It’s great credit to him that you can almost see his game developing as he goes along. he’s getting his hands on the ball a fair bit more than last year and I think that’s him getting used to us as well.

“It’s a really good signing and shows where we want to be heading as a team and the quality of players we want to attract to Exeter, and keep here as well.”

Mumm's decision to stay at the Chiefs follows that of team-mates Ian Whitten and Jack Yeandle, who themselves have recently agreed similar deals at Sandy Park. And Baxter says with the trio on board, coupled with a large percentage of the current squad already in contract for next season, the foundations are already in place for Exeter to continue building.

“It’s a compliment to the players that we want to move early to sign them up and it’s a compliment to us that they’re keen to get these things done early and stay,” remarked Baxter. “It’s been good all round for both of us. We enjoy having Dean around and he’s good for us, and I think Dean’s enjoyed playing at Exeter and what the club’s all about.

“He’s an ambitious guy and people don’t want to forget that. He sees the Heineken Cup games and the progress we’re making in the Premiership as an important part of where he wants to go as a rugby player.”

Baxter also hinted that others within the Chiefs squad are also close to agreeing new terms, adding: “We’re very close to pinning down another two or three very important players who are out of contract."