'Ideal' Will Haydon-Wood turns down offer from rival to stay at Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admits that it would have been easy for former England U20 international fly-half Will Haydon-Wood to have taken one of the options to leave the club this summer before signing a new one-year contract.

Reading-born Haydon-Wood, 25, who spoke to runaway Champ leaders Ealing Trailfinders, could have become the fourth Chiefs player to move to join the exodus from the club to Newcastle Red Bulls.

The former Newcastle Falcons and Wasps star, who can also play inside centre and full-back, joined the Chiefs from French minnows RC Massy three years ago and had the option to join Josh Hodge, Rusi Tuima, and Will Rigg at Kingston Park.

But much to Baxter’s delight, who says that he is an ideal player because of the versatility that he offers, he has decided to stay at Sandy Park for next season.

“It would have been (easy to leave), but I think he’s enjoying his rugby and things are feeling positive here. He was very keen to explore the opportunity of staying longer, but we will see how the next 12 months go, and make any decisions down the line.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Gloucester

34 - 31

Full-time

Exeter Chiefs

All Stats and Data

“I think there were opportunities elsewhere, but he wanted to keep going here. He’s enjoying his time here. Once we had kind of come to the decision that we both wanted to make, it all happened pretty quickly.

“You tend to find that when clubs are feeling positive or doing quite well, the squad changes less and less. I certainly think that’s what it’s been like when we’ve had periods of success before. It actually is fairly easy to stick with things.

“I think it feels like a positive group of players we’ve got here at the moment. So keeping quite a few of them together, especially these guys who have been heavily involved in the good runs we’ve had, is important.

“Will is an ideal player for us in a lot of ways, covers more than one position. He has played some very good games in his number one position at 10, and I just think we’re just starting to get there.”

Haydon-Wood admits that he is excited to see what he can achieve with the Chiefs, who are still chasing Gallagher PREM and European Challenge Cup honours this season.

“I’m excited to see what my future holds after re-signing at Exeter. I feel like I have settled in the South West with the club being a very tight-knit group, and that is now translating into on-pitch performances this season.

“Being part of a team that is striving to win trophies was a huge part of the reason why I wanted to stay, along with getting to play alongside close mates – a major part of why I started playing the game in the first place.

“Hopefully, I can play a part in finishing this season in a memorable way and carry that into next year,” said Hayden-Wood.