Baxter has high hopes for Witty
By Mark Stevens
17/3/19
Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after he bolstered his squad options for next season with the acquisition of Will Witty from Gallagher Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons.
The 24-year-old lock is Baxter’s second new arrival ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, following Scotland and British Lions full-back Stuart Hogg in joining the Devonians on a two-year deal.
Having monitored the fortunes of the Yorkshire-born forward for a number of seasons, Baxter believes he has captured a quality performer who, with time, will only get better and better.
"This is not the first time we have looked at him,” said Baxter. “The last time, probably for the right reasons, he chose to stay at Newcastle. He was just breaking into the team, starting to get good game time, and doing very well there. This time, when we knew he was becoming available again, we had another close look at him.
"We've watched him closely now over a couple of contract cycles and we just think he is one of those guys who is already a good player capable of playing well both in the Premiership and in European games. That said, we still feel he is on that upward curve of performance and that's the important thing.
"We see Will as a guy who is physically, tactically and technically improving and those are the kind of players we want to bring to the club. We want to get that balance of guys who come in and add something over a period of time and that is what we feel Will can do. He has got very good elements to his game already and we feel those foundations are something which can be built on in the future.”
Witty has come through the academy ranks at Kingston Park and has to date amassed 73 appearances for the Falcons, who last season finished in the top four, only to miss out on a place in the Premiership Final when they were beaten by the Chiefs at Sandy Park.
“Will has been a key performer for Newcastle now for a couple of seasons,” added Baxter. “He's a good line-out forward, which is important, and he offers a lot of qualities around the field. Of course, there are always going to be things that we will try and do to get him to fit into what you would call an Exeter Chiefs pack, but on the whole we have enjoyed watching him play for Newcastle and those elements of his game are what we will look to add onto his game over the coming seasons.”