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Exeter Chiefs make Martin Moloney decision after pre-season trial

By Josh Raisey
Martin Moloney during a Leinster Rugby captain's run at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Martin Moloney’s pre-season trial at Exeter Chiefs has proven to be successful with the club signing him ahead of the new season.

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The former Leinster flanker moved to Sandy Park in July on a trial period to provide back-row cover for the club.

The Chiefs handed the 24-year-old his debut against Championship outfit London Scottish in August, where he caught the eye of director of rugby Rob Baxter, who said he did “really well”.

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The Irishman will leave Leinster after making eleven appearances since making his debut against Munster in 2021.

Exeter get their Gallagher Premiership campaign underway against Leicester Tigers on September 21, with Moloney vying for a place.

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
14 - 17
Full-time
Leicester
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“I am hugely excited to be joining the Exeter Chiefs squad this season,” Moloney said.

“Watching how the team has performed over the last few years and the style of rugby that they play here, it is clear that now is a great time to be joining the club.

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“Having been here for the last two months, I have learned a lot more about the rich history of this club.

“I look forward to representing the club this season and helping this group add to the legacy that is already here.”

Baxter added: “Martin has now joined up with us for the remainder of the season. He’s a young guy who’s had some injury issues at Leinster, took an opportunity to come to us on a long-term trial. We initially extended that period having watched him train for a month to include the recent double header games.

“I thought he did really well in our London Scottish and Cornish Pirates games. He’s trained really well for us and will give us a different option in the back row but also strengthen us in a position where – with players leaving and injuries – we’ve not got the strength in depth that we’ve had previously.

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“He certainly adds a different dimension over the ball and around the contact area for us. So, we’ve been delighted to agree a contract with Martin to keep him with us until the end of the season.”

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E
EV 5 hours ago
Is this why Ireland and England struggle to win World Cups?

Rassie is an extremely shrewd PR operator but the hype and melodrama is a sideshow to take the attention from the real reason for the Boks dominance.


Utimately the Boks dominate because Rassie and his team are so scientific and so driven. His attention to detail and obsessive analysis smacks of Tom Brady's approach.


He has engineered a system to find and nurture talent from the best schools to the most desolate backwaters. That system has a culture and doctrine very similar to elite military units, it does not tolerate individuals at the expense of the collective.


That machine also churns out three to five world class players in every position. They are encouraged to play in Ireland, England, France and Japan where their performance continues to be monitored according to metrics that is well guarded IP.


Older players are begged to play in the less physical Japanese league as it extends their careers. No Saffa really wants to see Etzebeth or Peter Steph or Pollard play in France or British Isles. And especially not in South Africa, where you just have these big, physical young guns coming out of hyper competitive schools looking for blood.


Last but but no means the least is the rugby public's alignment with the Springbok agenda. We love it when they win between World Cups but there is zero drama if they lose a game or a string of games for the sake of squad depth.


It's taken time to put it together but it has just matured into a relentless machine.

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