Olly Woodburn targets return to glory years with new Chiefs deal

Exeter Chiefs winger Olly Woodburn has set his sights on helping the club get back on the trophy trail again after signing a deal to stay at Sandy Park for an 11th season.

Woodburn, 33, helped the Chiefs reach their first top-flight final in 2016 in his first season at the club after joining from Premiership rivals Bath and picking up a winners medal after beating Wasps a year later.

Part of the Chiefs squad that claimed a Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020, he has made 184 appearances and is currently on the road to recovery after suffering a season ACL injury against Gloucester in December.

“I’m hugely excited to be staying. I get to play for a club where I became a Champion. I’ve spent the majority of my adult life here in Exeter, so this place has huge meaning to me.

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“I love running out at Sandy Park, playing some exciting rugby in front of an incredibly loyal fan base. I can’t wait to get stuck in and hopefully be part of a change as we look to work towards becoming Champions again,” he said.

Director of rugby Rob Baxter admits that he feels it’s essential for the club to retain experienced players like Woodburn rather than lose them, which has happened over the past few seasons.

“We’re really pleased to have extended Olly’s contract. He’s an experienced player who has played a big role for us in a long period of success.

He’s been there when we’ve won trophies, and so he understands what it takes and what it means to get to that level.

I’m very keen on us not continually losing experience year on year.

“We’ve gone through a big transition period, and what we’re trying to do now with the squad is bring in quality but maintain experience in places where we can and where we feel it strengthens the squad.

“I’d like us to be a competitive squad across all competitions next season, and I think Olly gives us that balance of being able to play 13 – where he was one of our form players at the start of the season before his injury.

“But also be particularly strong in the high-ball contest that’s become a particularly important part of the game now. So, it’s great to be keeping him on board. I think it’s a really good sign of the quality of squad we’ll have next season.”