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Exeter ace Josh Hodge a target of Premiership rivals Gloucester
By Neil Fissler
Gloucester are keen on Exeter Chiefs sharpshooter Josh Hodge as they look to replace Argentinean international Santi Carreras, who is moving to arch West Country rivals and Premiership leaders Bath next season.
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Lancaster-born Hodge, 24, who was educated at Sedburgh School, has played against the Cherry and Whites three times this season, twice in the Premiership Cup scoring on both occasions, including in Saturday’s 22-14 defeat.
Eddie Jones named the former England under-20 international who also won A honours as an apprentice for the 2020 Six Nations while helping Newcastle Falcons win promotion to the Premiership.
Hodge, who can operate at full-back and on the wing, has this season made 16 appearances for the Chiefs, whom he joined in June 2020, signing a new contract three years later.
Gloucester need a top-class replacement for Carreras and would love for Hodge, once in Preston North End’s academy, who has scored 23 tries in 74 appearances to make the 110-mile trip up the M5 from Sandy Park to Kingsholm.
Hodge, who is one of the best kickers in the Premiership, admits that he could pursue shooting after his rugby career ends and told the Daily Telegraph last year that he could have enjoyed a career in motocross.
“I could go into shooting after rugby. I still shoot now. There’s a gun shop down here who I work with quite well. They do Ashcombe shooting down on the coast, which is great.
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“They always try to get me to enter competitions, but I’m never available due to games. I do enjoy my shooting, I like being out there, and I like the people who take part in it.
“If I didn’t have rugby and if mum had wanted me to ride motorbikes, I probably would have gone pretty high up in motocross. No fear. I was lethal on one of those. I went round the family field for hours on end,” he said.
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