Nic White set to leave Exeter Chiefs and chase World Cup dream with Baxter's blessing

Nic White set to leave Exeter Chiefs and chase World Cup dream with Baxter's blessing

Exter Chiefs' scrumhalf Nic White is one step closer to realising his dream of representing the Wallabies at a Rugby World Cup after he was given the green light by Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter.

Baxter admitted that he had no hesitation in coming to a contractual agreement that will pave the way for the scrum-half to be available for the Wallabies.

White is set to join an Australian Super Rugby franchise after the Chiefs agreed to allow him to leave the Premiership club at the end of the 2019/20 season and in so doing be eligible for selection by the Wallabies for the showpiece event in Japan.

The 28-year-old scrumhalf originally left Australia in 2015, signing for Top 14 side Montpellier, after he missed out on a place Michael Cheika's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He moved to Exeter in 2017 and has since racked up 44 appearances scoring 10 tries.

"Nic's got our full blessing," Baxter told BBC Sport. "He's fully contracted with us now for this season and the season coming, but by signing for an Australian franchise, that allows Australia to pick him now which makes him available for the World Cup.


"Nic's always wanted to play in a World Cup, it's been a big ambition of his.

"As much as we'd like Nic to stay here long term, he's a very good player for us and done very well, there is a reality that we also think it's part of what we're about that if we can help someone reignite their career and do well that we don't want to stand in their way."


"You'd like to keep all your top players and keep adding to it, but that isn't the reality," said Baxter.

"We'll keep our eye on the market, interesting players will become available, but first and foremost we'll look at the form of the young nines we've got here and see if we start to anticipate a year's time is the right time for them all to step up and fight for the one, two and three spots just on their own."



White earned 22 test caps for the Wallabies before he headed to Europe. Reports in Australia have linked White with a move to the Melbourne Rebels where he is likely to replace Will Genia who is reportedly set to join a Japanese Top League side after the World Cup. 

Via: BBC Sport

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