Exeter Chiefs hit with unfortunate setback after signing ex-Junior All Blacks star

Brumbies centre Tamati Tua takes on the Hurricanes defence in Canberra.
Exeter Chiefs have announced the signing of former Junior All Blacks centre Tamati Tua, who joins the club from the Brumbies ahead of the Premiership season.
The talented back makes the switch to England from the Australian Super Rugby Pacific outfit having made 31 appearances for the Brumbies, scoring five tries.
Tua, who grew up in Kaitaia in north New Zealand and also played for the Blues in Super Rugby, is excited about testing himself in new surroundings in 2024/25.
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“I’ve always wanted to play overseas, and I’d heard good things about the club from coaches and boys that had played in the Premiership before,” he told Exeter‘s website.
“I’m excited to be here and I’d like to do what I can to help to get more trophies in the cabinet.”
Tua, 26, played in the National Provincial Championship for Northland before signing for the Blues and made his Super Rugby bow against the Crusaders in 2018.
He then moved to the Brumbies in 2023 where he would link up with Wallabies centre Len Ikitau, but Tua is now heading to the northern hemisphere and Exeter.
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Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes the signing is key as they approach a new cycle in their midfield stocks, but he did have some bad news on Tua.
“People will be aware that centre is a position that we’ve had great strength in over a number of years. Through age, and players moving on, that’s slowly changed in terms of experience,” he said.
“We’ve got some great young players in that position now with guys like Zack Wimbush, Ben Hammerlsey and Tommy Wyatt being able to play there, and a guy like Nick Lilley who has played England age-grades.
“So, we’ve got good players but they’re younger and slightly inexperienced, so it’s an area we’ve been wanting to strengthen. We had a really good look at Tamati as he was playing very well for ACT Brumbies – he played right through to the late stages of the season – with him being one of their stand-out players.”
He added: “Unfortunately, he’s arrived with a neck issue which he picked up towards the end of last season’s campaign, so we’re now in a position where we’ve had to address that and it’s likely that he’ll need an operation shortly which will require a period of rehab.
“So, unfortunately he’s going to miss the start of the season for us, but we’re very confident he’ll be back on the pitch fairly early in the season and will be a player that will bring an awful lot to how we want to play, both in attack and defence.”
Exeter kick off their Premiership season at home against Leicester Tigers on Saturday, September 21 as both clubs look to bounce back after poor 2023/24 campaigns.