Exeter set sights on Bok hooker after denying Luke Cowan-Dickie return

Exeter Chiefs are believed to be in the running to sign out-of-favour Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba after Rob Baxter denied that he has held talks with England star Luke Cowan-Dickie about a return to Sandy Park.

Truro-born Cowan-Dickie, 31, is out of contract at Sale Sharks at the end of the season, and the rumour mill has been in overdrive that he was being lined up for a dramatic return to Devon, where he left for Manchester in 2023.

“I can categorically say we are not in transfer negotiations with him if he wants to give me a call and ask about the scenario at Exeter. I’m more than happy.

“But I have not been contacted by him or his agent. If he is doing to knock on the door and the contract is right, we’ll discuss things, but that honestly has not happened,” said Chiefs boss Baxter.

Cowan-Dickie is likely to now stay with the Sharks for at least the next 12 months but could have an escape clause inserted, which will allow him to leave in 2026 if a French club comes in for him.

The Chiefs, who have lost Dan Frost to Bath next season, also have Jack Innard and Jack Yeandle in the final six months of their deals, and their futures remain up in the air.

The Chiefs have been linked with Brumbies star Billy Pollard, 23, who is out of contract at the end of the year and who has won six Wallabies caps and had a spell in France with Jack Nowell at La Rochelle last season.

However, sources in South Africa have said that the Chiefs are one of two Gallagher Premiership clubs that have made an offer to Dweba, 29, who is nearing the end of his deal with the Stormers.

He rejected a lucrative move to Sale Sharks last summer to stay in Cape Town before being linked with moves to Japan and France but appears to be a player catching Baxter’s attention.