The Olly Woodburn quality that Rob Baxter rates above all others

Olly Woodburn has targeted more silverware after signing a new contract that will keep him at PREM Rugby Cup Finalists Exeter Chiefs for next season.

Bristol-born Woodburn, 34, who was signed from West Country rivals Bath in 2015, could make his 200th appearance for the club in Sunday’s final against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

He was named the Chiefs’ Player of the Year during their 2017 Premiership-winning campaign when he was nominated for the Premiership’s Player of the Year award.

Woodburn, a winger by trade, has covered at centre and filled in at full-back this season during an injury crisis when Josh Hodge was on the sidelines, and is delighted to be staying at Sandy Park.

“I’m honoured to have the opportunity to keep chasing trophies with such a talented group of players and staff. This club has become home for me over the past decade,” he said.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the support from the fans, the coaches, and everyone behind the scenes. I’m excited for what’s ahead and motivated to keep improving, contribute to the team and hopefully help bring more success to the club,” he said.

Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has lauded Woodburn, who has recovered from an ACL injury at the start of last year, with 64 tries to his name, as the best five-metre finisher that he has had at the club.

“He is one of the old guard, really been here a while, has been in those successful periods with us and won trophies with us and has come back recently from a pretty significant injury and looks just as good as ever,” he said.

“His skill set under like high balls and breaking tackles is fantastic, he has got a super strength when it comes to scoring tries. He’s probably the most lethal finisher from five metres under pressure that we’ve probably ever seen here.

“He manages to score things that other players can’t score. The quality he has shown and the way he’s conditioning has held up through this season, kind of leaves you in no doubt. There’s a lot of value in us keeping him.

“He’s one of those guys who adds that proper balance to us as a team because, without doubt, part of our struggle last season was that the team were in an overloaded place based on youth and inexperienced.

“We’ve got a much better spread of experience and quality across the group this year, and Woody’s been a very important part of that, and he’s been rewarded with a contract extension.”