Premiership
Hooker signs new deal with the Chiefs
By Mark Stevens
20/6/23
Dan Frost says he’s excited to be part of what is being called the ‘Next Generation’ at Exeter Chiefs after today signing a new two-year deal.
The 26-year-old hooker arrived at Sandy Park in October of last year following the collapse of former club Wasps out of the Gallagher Premiership. And he was immediately thrust into the fray, playing 13 times and scoring four tries.
Now, the Taunton-born forward is looking to kick on having secured his future with the Devonians moving forward.
“To be fair, after what happened at Wasps – which was incredibly sad for so many people – I was just so grateful to get the opportunity here at the Chiefs,” he said. “Coming back to the South West and being so close to my family, it was just a massive positive for me.
“However, staying in the Premiership was also key for me. When Rob [Baxter] spoke to me and said would I be keen to come down here, I literally jumped at the chance. Then, with the way things went last season, it was a pretty easy decision to make when they asked me to stay on.”
Now, Frost aims to be part of a youthful Chiefs squad, which will have a new look to it this season following the departure of a number of long-serving and experienced stars following the culmination of the 2022/23 campaign.
“It’s a young squad we have here, but it’s also an exciting one,” added Frost. “Coming in for pre-season, you can feel the excitement amongst everyone. At the same time, there is still a decent core of senior players who have stayed and that’s what we will use to blend everything together moving forward.
“People have seen in the past how Rob and the coaches here have created a young squad and taken them to the very top. Now, we’re looking to do the same, build that squad which, hopefully, can be here for many years to come and who can win us trophies.”
Frost was part of the Chiefs squad that reported back for pre-season training yesterday at Sandy Park and he expects the build-up to the new season to be as gruelling as ever.
“Pre-season is what it is, it’s like a necessary evil you have to go through,” added Frost. “It will be tough, they always are, but it’s where you set things up for the season. The mood amongst the boys is really good, really positive and that will only build between now and the start of the season.”
Although the Chiefs have seen England and British Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie move on, Frost knows the battle for the No.2 jersey will be intense.
“There are threats everywhere in terms of not just my position, but right across the board,” continued Frost. “It’s good, though, it’s healthy competition and it just helps bring the best out in everyone.”
One man delighted to see Frost extend his stay is Director of Rugby Baxter, who added: “We’re delighted that Dan has decided to extend his stay with us. We saw last season when he came into the club, what a great addition he was to the first-team squad. Moving forward, I can only see Dan improving and getting better in all aspects of his play. It’s an exciting time for all of us heading into the new season and news like Dan deciding to stay with the club is just adding to the positive atmosphere about the place.”
Content & Images from – Exeter Chiefs Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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