Rivals will look to grab star Chiefs - Baxter
By Mark Stevens
29/12/21
Rob Baxter admits the on-field success of his Exeter Chiefs squad has made it harder for him to keep all of his players on the books at Sandy Park.
It was confirmed recently that international locks Jonny Hill and Sam Skinner would be departing at the end of the current campaign to join Sale Sharks and Edinburgh Rugby respectively.
Both players have been key cogs in the rise of the Chiefs in recent seasons, helping the Devon club to a historic Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020.
However, a cut in the top flight’s salary cap, plus appealing offers from elsewhere, have meant that Baxter is resigned to seeing some members of his squad moving to pastures new.
“For obvious reasons it’s always disappointing when you see players leave, but it happens,” said the Chiefs Director of Rugby. “There hasn’t been any kind of meltdown or issues with either player. They have both been important guys for us, helping us improve and win trophies.
“Would I love them to stay a bit longer? Of course I would
“But, at the same time, it’s just not possible to keep everyone here, especially as contracts come up and they count at 100% in a reduced cap. I’ve had conversations with both Jonny and Sam and they’ve been very positive. As I said to them, this is how the salary cap should work.
“As a club, we should try and create a team, a squad, a group of players who are very good, do well and are successful together, potentially earn international caps, and it should be hard to keep all of them together.
“It shouldn’t be easy to keep a strong and successful team together because as contracts end, players like these two should be targets for other clubs. I personally don’t see it as a negative when players leave for that reason. Instead, it’s an opportunity for them, both in terms of their career and financial wise, to move on. It’s hard for me to turn round and say that is a negative.
“If we had a team full of players that people didn’t want, then we wouldn’t be a good team. Therefore, there is way you have to look at things and that is very much how I look at it.”
Baxter’s comments came during his weekly media briefing and the Chiefs supremo was quick to state that he hoped to use the coming weeks to get some clarity to the club’s supporters - and those outside of the game - over what his squad will look like next season.
He added: “I still have a couple of conversations to have with people, but then that can probably settle everyone down a bit. I know we are still going to have a strong squad next season. There isn’t going to be masses and masses of changes, but every change that goes creates a possible opportunity for someone who is here already - or potential players who are not here yet that we have been keeping an eye on.
“It’s always going to be a little bit fluid year on year and it’s out job as coaches to keep moving forward and keep trying to be successful.”
Although the loss of both Hill and Skinner will be felt, Baxter has spoken of his delight that Scotland and British & Irish Lions full-back Stuart Hogg has pledged his future to the club.
The 29-year-old gave Chiefs supporters an early Christmas present when he publicly quashed speculation linking him with a move away from Sandy Park at the end of the season.
Baxter continued: “We went out and recruited Stuart for various reasons. We wanted to create a squad and team that was capable of winning tournaments, which we did, and Stuart was very much part and parcel of that success.
“He is also - and I think it’s very important that people see this - Stuart has been challenged by circumstance and by us a little bit. At the end of last season, I didn’t feel he was playing as well as he could. He missed out in some big games, which was a big call from us, but I actually think Stuart saying he is committed to the club says a lot about his overall character and a lot about him.
“What could he have done? He could have gone away and thought I’m not necessarily an automatic pick at Exeter, it could be easier for me to go to another club. Instead, what has he done, he’s rolled his sleeves up and said he wants to be at a club where I know I have to be performing well if I want to start.
“For me, that’s the kind of guys you want around and I actually think that has been shown in his performances so far this season. He has rolled his sleeves up, he’s got on with things, and everything he says and is showing me, is that he is fully committed to the club.
“That’s the kind of statement you want to see. He wanted to clear the air with everyone. There was some ridiculous stuff being said on social media about him and he just wanted to get it right. Actually, I think we have a few more players like that as well and it’s why we are pretty confident we can get a statement out soon because we have a lot of players here who want to end any speculation about where they are going and what they are doing.”