Jimmy Roots secures his Chiefs future

Exeter Chiefs have added to their front row depth as tighthead prop Jimmy Roots has signed a contract extension from the 2026/27 season.

Originally joining from Champ Rugby side Ealing Trailfinders in the summer of 2024, Roots’ playing performances and boisterous personality have made him a favourite among Chiefs supporters at Sandy Park.

Roots said: “I just love it here. The group we have, how we’ve managed to turn things around, is pretty exciting to be a part of. My first year here, even though we were struggling, I was still living my dream at the highest level of the sport so to be able to be successful has been an eye-opener. I want to continue being a part of that.

“The group of boys here are class, I get to be close to my brother and spend lots of time with my family, so it was really a no-brainer when we spoke about extending my contract. This is the place for me.”

The 26-year-old was born in New Zealand and started his sporting journey with East Coast Bay in Auckland. As he progressed in his rugby development, Roots represented Blues U20s and North Harbour.

Upon moving to England in 2021, the prop made 27 appearances for dominant second tier side, Trailfinders, winning the league twice with them during his time in London.

A junior All Black international, Roots has made 31 appearances since his Chiefs debut against Cornish Pirates in a PREM Rugby Cup match in October 2024.

As Chiefs have been enjoying strong performances this season, so too has Roots. In 16 games, he has made 79 carries and developed an 80% tackle completion rate.

Director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Jimmy is one of those guys who got his opportunity to join us through doing well in Champ Rugby. We’ve seen a good rate of improvement from him during his time with us so far and he’s moving into an area now of being very competitive in all aspects of his game.

“His strengths are his speed into ball carriage, his speed into tackle and clear-outs but he’s also worked very hard on his set-piece work, which we’re seeing improve all the time. He’s becoming an important member of a strong pack of forwards.

“He’s a good guy around the changing room, a real energy giver – sometimes too much, but that’s not the worst quality to have. That kind of attitude towards loving the game and getting on the field, to throw yourself about and get into the game, is what we’ve always been about. So, for all those reasons, he fits in perfectly here.”