Chiefs re-sign front row
Apr
Exeter Chiefs have extended the contracts of three of their front players - Chris Budgen, Neil Clark and Brett Sturgess - who have clocked up 73 appearances between them this season alone.
Sturgess, who has played the most games this season of the three, arrived three seasons ago, while Budgen has continued to juggle his Army commitments with his vital role as part of the Chiefs squad during the last two years and is the highest try scorer of the trio with 13.
Clark returned to Chiefs in 2008 after a spell at Bristol and passed the 100 league game milestone earlier this season.
Together with props Hoani Tui and Ruaidhrí Murphy, who will also be with Chiefs next season, this trio have formed the cornerstone of the Exeter squad.
Head coach Rob Baxter said: "To have secured the services of this number of quality front row players is a massive positive for the club. Any game of rugby starts with the competition for possession and these players have guaranteed a stream of quality ball from the set-pieces this season. All these players have different strengths and are at different stages of their playing development but they all have the correct work ethic and desire to succeed that we demand as a club."
