Rob Baxter confident on Tom Hooper deal now major roadblock is gone

Exeter Chiefs are set to open talks with Wallaby back-row Tom Hooper about extending his contract, even though he is only a little over six months into a two-year deal.

Hooper admitted last week that he would be open to extending his stay with the Chiefs after hitting a ceiling in Australia, and now boss Rob Baxter is poised to open talks with his representatives about him signing a long-term contract.

The former ACT Brumbies flanker recently returned to action after a two-month layoff due to a knee injury and impressed in the Chiefs’ last two PREM victories against Sale Sharks and Newcastle Red Bulls.

“The conversation I had with him was that I’d love you to stay more than the two years. And he said, well, let’s look into it and that’s what we’re doing. But that’s as far as it’s gone at the moment.

“To be fair, and that’s how most early conversations happen on contract extensions. You speak to the player fast. Would you be interested if I started to talk about what we could do for further time here?

Fixture

Challenge Cup

Exeter Chiefs

04:30

4 Apr 26

Munster

All Stats and Data

“Player says yes or no, or it’s too early, or I’d like a bit more time, and you go from there. That’s how 90 per cent of them work. Hopefully, we can make things work for a longer-term stay.

“You know, if now is not the right time and we have to talk about a year’s time, we’ll talk about a year’s time. But, you know, I don’t see any point in us not waiting to get on with things,” said Baxter.

Baxter says he has been impressed by the energy Hooper brings to his squad and believes the ARU’s decision to scrap the restriction on selecting overseas-based players will work to their advantage when agreeing a new deal.

“I think it obviously simplifies things now that Australia are quite happy to select players playing outside Australia. Now, those restrictions on numbers and how they work have all changed, which makes things a lot simpler for the players.

“I know there was Giteau’s law for a period, but that was limited to a certain number of players. So, the relevance of staying or moving around is far easier now for the players.

“Tom is a good guy. He’s a good team man, loves playing rugby, loves training, loves the things that are associated with the sport. You couldn’t really fault him on any of that,” he added.