Premiership: Worcester, London Irish and Saracens all with good news

Worcester, London Irish and Saracens have all announced positive squad news ahead of next season, with the former two retaining players and Saracens signing a prop.

Worcester have re-signed 24-year-old back-row Tom Dodd to a new one-season contract after the former Scotland U20 international recovered from a knee injury sustained in February.

Going in the right direction

“Before the injury I was very pleased with the way things were going,” Dodd told the club website.

“But the club is going in the right direction and with Steve Diamond coming in and straightening a few things out, I think we can be very positive about next season.”

Worcester also confirmed it had straightened out some ‘short-term cashflow’ problems which had resulted in non-payment of some player salaries in May.

Over in the south east, London Irish announced a long-term contract extension to exciting prospect Will Joseph, who has begun to establish himself in the first team.

Joseph is an England U18 and U20 international with a turn of pace to match team-mate Henry Arundell, which he showed with a scorching try against Castres in the Challenge Cup.

“This is a hugely proud moment for me and my family, and I am grateful to London Irish for giving me this opportunity,” he said.

“My teammates have helped me bed into the system over the course of the last two seasons and Declan Kidney and the coaches have helped me further my game to another level.

“I can’t wait to kick on with Irish!”

Saracens have followed the Exiles in signing a prop from Zebre, snapping up Argentinean international Eduardo Bello.

The 26-year-old made his international debut in 2021 during The Rugby Championship clash against Australia, along with more than 80 matches for Zebre.

“I am really happy and excited to join this team of great players, I hope to grow as a player and do my best for the club,” he said.

Exeter have confirmed 11 departures, most of which were known already, but also featuring a couple of promising youngsters who wanted more game time, such as prop Alfie Petch.

“I understand, if you are someone like Alfie looking around at the tightheads ahead of him at the club with some established players there and looking for opportunities elsewhere; I haven’t got a problem with that. That is how it should be,” said coach Rob Baxter.

“I am quite happy. If we are doing such a good job at producing players that some people decide they don’t want to stay here because there is too much competition then we are doing a good job as coaches.”

Exeter departures: Don Armand – retiring, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne – Benetton Rugby, Jack Walsh – Ospreys, Jordon Poole – unknown, Alfie Petch – Northampton Saints, Sam Skinner – Edinburgh, Jonny Hill – Sale Sharks, Tom O’Flaherty – Sale Sharks, Aaron Hinkley – Northampton Saints, Sean Lonsdale – Dragons, Sam Nixon – Grenoble.

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