Haydon-Wood in line for new Exeter contract

Exeter Chiefs fly-half Will Haydon-Wood is close to signing a new deal with the club.

Haydon-Wood, 25, moved to Exeter from French club RC Massy in 2023. He previously played for Newcastle and Wasps.

He has made 15 appearances so far this season, starting on nine occasions, including all of the Chiefs' four Prem Rugby Cup matches.

Haydon-Wood's current contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign.

"We are still finalising some bits and pieces," director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon when asked about the player's future.

"We have one bit of outside recruitment to do and everything else is based around retention talks. All those things are ongoing at the moment."

Baxter believes new signing Dallas McLeod, who is set to arrive from Crusaders next season, will give his side the right balance.

New Zealander McLeod will join as centre Len Ikitau heads back to Australia after a season at Sandy Park.

"Obviously we knew we were losing Len Ikitau and he's had a huge impact on the season for us," Baxter said.

"That doesn't mean we don't have some good young centre options coming through, but I think you've got to be a bit careful expecting a lot of young players doing very well.

"Getting the blend in the team is very important. Dallas is obviously very experienced. He's played 12 and 13, which is important for us, and with [Henry] Sladey being in and out with international duties.

"Some of that flexibility is important for us, but he is an out-and-out front-line international quality centre.

"We think we're well stocked there – we've got the balance about right there now."

Exeter have also announced that young second-row pair Joe Bailey and Oscar Beckerleg have signed new deals, keeping them at Sandy Park until the end of the 2026-27 season.

They will conclude their Prem Rugby Cup pool phase with a home match against holders Bath on Saturday (16:30 GMT) in a repeat of last year's final.