Exeter to bring back old boy Abuladze in triple transfer swoop

Georgia loosehead Nika Abuladze is set to re-join Exeter, two years after leaving for Montpellier.

Abuladze, 30, will accompany fellow Montpellier loosehead Enzo Forletta, who is moving to Perpignan, in leaving the Septeo Stadium when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Tbilisi-born and capped 22 times by his country, Abuladze became the first Georgian to play for the Devon outfit and made 16 appearances after signing from Black Lions in March 2023.

He joins fellow countryman tighthead Bachuki Tchumbadze, 24, who was also signed from Black Lion last summer on a contract until 2027 and has become a regular fixture in the Chiefs’ front row.

The Chiefs have also agreed deals with Saracens second-row Harry Wilson and Bath’s England A inside centre Will Butt, who was spotted in a long conversation with Baxter in the middle of the pitch when the Chiefs visited The Rec recently.

PREM Rugby’s most-improved team have also sounded out Ospreys fly-half Jack Walsh, who hails from Jacksonville, Florida, about returning to Sandy Park from the United Rugby Championship outfit at the end of the season.

They have also been linked with Northampton back-three star and Newcastle target, James Rahm, but the Australian is expected to stay at Northampton Saints, as well as Noah Heward from Bristol Bears, who also operates at full-back and on the wing.

The Chiefs have lost Josh Hodges and Rusi Tuima to the Red Bulls, with Will Rigg expected to join them, while fly-half Will Haydon-Wood has had talks about returning to Kingston Park, where he started his career.

Baxter, who has also been linked with a move for Declan Meredith, a fly-half and fullback who plays for the Brumbies, wants to keep signings to a minimum despite the spate of departures.

“I think we are going to look like a very strong squad again next season. We are hopefully moving into a period of less player churn but adding top-quality signings,” he told RugbyPass.