Rob Baxter hints this may not be Len Ikitau's only season at Exeter

Rob Baxter believes that Wallabies superstar Len Ikitau would be open to returning to the Exeter Chiefs for a second spell when his contract with the Brumbies ends after the 2027 World Cup.

In April 2025, the outside centre signed a new two-year contract with Rugby Australia, which included a season-long sabbatical worth £400,000 with the Chiefs, and despite needing a shoulder operation, he has scored two tries in eight games.

And Baxter says that he would like to see Brisbane-born Ikitau, 27, return to Devon, especially as by then the club should be on a sounder financial footing with Cannae Holdings’ Black Knight Sports and Entertainment set to take control of the club.

“We’ve had brief conversations, but the challenge is we have made some longer-term signings, in Will Butt and Dallas McLeod. So, it’s not as simple as getting those deals done now. But I think Len would be very open to it,” Baxter said.

“He’s really enjoyed his time here, and without doubt, if it’s something we can look to do in the future, I don’t think I’ll have any of the coaching team saying they wouldn’t like to get him back. I’m pretty certain they would.

“But obviously, there are things like salary caps and bits and pieces that obviously affect all that. But it is certainly something that we would be prepared to explore in the future.
“I’ll be honest with you. Our initial intention was that Len would have come for a couple of years, but obviously, Rugby Australia moved very, very quickly to secure him, which Len decided to accept, which was fine with us.
“We always knew it was either a one or a two-year deal. I think he’s come in and he’s done what we wanted to do. He’s created some quality throughout the side. He’s certainly created interest in the team.
“The fan base love him, the other members in the team love him. You know, people have a bigger influence than just what you see on the field. I think Len has certainly done that,” he said.