Exeter Chiefs send 5 on loan to Championship

Exeter Chiefs have sent five players on loan to Championship outfit Cornish Pirates on dual registration ahead of next season.

Two members of the quintet, 21-year-old flyhalf Iwan Jenkins and 26-year-old back row Hallam Chapman, will return to Mennaye Field having spent periods of last season with the Pirates, who have a longstanding relationship with the Chiefs.

Chapman joined the Pirates in March after signing for Rob Baxter's side in November following the demise of his former club Jersey Reds. Former Wales U20 flyhalf Jenkins was also part of a contingent of Chiefs players who joined the Pirates this time last year, but returned to Sandy Park to help in their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, where he started on the bench in the semi-final loss to Gloucester.

Jenkins will be joined by fellow 21-year-olds, centres Chester Ribbons and Charlie McCaig, in making the move from Devon to Cornwall over the summer.

Hooker Sol Moody is the final member of the Pirates' new recruits. The 19-year-old signed a new Exeter contract in April.

After finishing last season in second place in the Championship, the Pirates will get their new season underway on the road against Nottingham on Friday September 20.

“We have a fantastic working relationship with Cornish Pirates and the coaches there,” director of rugby Baxter said.

“It has been a longstanding, and well-worked, relationship. We’re delighted that we can have players on loan with Pirates, giving them not only very good coaching but also that real competitive training and game-time in what is a very good, strong and competitive league.”