Club captain Yeandle extends his Chiefs career

Exeter Chiefs club captain Jack Yeandle will be lacing up his boots for a 15th season as the hooker has signed a one-year extension with the club.

With more than 325 Chiefs appearances, Yeandle has been one of the standout players of the professional era, lifting two Gallagher PREM trophies and a Heineken Champions Cup.

Yeandle said: “I can’t wait to get stuck into another season. Everyone knows how much this club means to me and the chance to continue making new memories at Sandy Park is one I’m really thankful for.

“Leading this team, lifting trophies and making friendships for life has meant so much to me. I still feel like one of the young ones in the changing room, even if the boys like to remind me otherwise! It’s because of that though, that I still feel like I have a lot left to give to the squad, on and off the pitch.

“It’s an honour to be continuing on the journey this team is on and I’m excited to see what we can achieve.”

Since signing his first Exeter Chiefs contract in June 2012, Yeandle has embedded himself at the very heart of the club. His debut against London Welsh in an LV= cup match in November 2012 was followed three short years later by the then 25-year-old being handed the club captaincy from Dean Mumm.

In the 11 years since, the Crediton-born hooker has competed in every Prem or European final the club has competed in, hoisting the domestic trophy on two occasions, as well as completing a historic double with the European trophy in 2020.

Off the field, Yeandle is a changing-room leader, often seen setting the work-rate level of the squad and serving as a wealth of knowledge and experience for younger members of the squad.

This season, Yeandle has played in 20 games, including helping to lead the side to a gritty EPCR Challenge Cup victory over Benetton Rugby in Treviso and helping to secure a comeback which set the tone against Northampton Saints at the outset of the season.

Director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “It’s great to have the old warrior with us going forward! He’s been having another fantastic season for us. The really pleasing thing, along with how well he’s been playing on the field, is how much leadership he brings to the group.

“It was a very easy decision to keep him as he truly understands what we’re about.

“He’s sorely missed right now through injury, but if there’s one thing I know about Jack it’s that he’ll turn up on day one of pre-season probably as the fittest player in the squad and prepared to work the hardest.

“While this injury is frustrating, it may actually extend his playing career because he can really focus on other elements of his physical conditioning. So, we’re really looking forward to working with him for another year.”