Graham joins Albion on loan

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs lock Romana Graham has joined Championship side Plymouth Albion on a short-term loan deal.

The 27-year-old New Zealander, who joined the Devon club earlier this season from Super 15 outfit Chiefs, is to spend a short period at the Brickfields in a bid to get some crucial game time under his belts.

Since arriving at Sandy Park, the New Zealand Maori forward has featured just twice for the club, both times in LV= Cup encounters against Harlequins and Bath, and head coach Rob Baxter is keen to get the imposing forward match-ready for what will be a crucial period of fixtures for the club both before and after Christmas.

"It's a bit like James Phillips going down to the Pirates, we need to get game minutes into Romana," said Baxter. "It's good that we have a working relationship with the guys down at Plymouth Albion and we know the situation will benefit all parties."

A similar deal to also take Exeter's Fijian international Sireli Naqelevuki to Albion has fallen through following visa issues.