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Hunter Paisami the latest Wallaby linked with Premiership move- report
By Josh Raisey
Australia and Reds centre Hunter Paisami is the subject of a tug-fo-war between Rugby Australia and the Gallagher Premiership’s Exeter Chiefs, according to Australian outlet The Roar.
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The in-form centre is currently weighing up his options, with the Chiefs reportedly tabling a long-term offer while RA have only offered a one-year top-up on his current deal.
The 26-year-old would not be the only Wallaby centre heading to the Premiership should he accept Exeter’s offer, with Waratahs centre Izaia Perese set to join Leicester Tigers ahead of next season.
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Paisami is in line for a Wallabies recall by new coach Joe Schmidt after missing out on Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad last year, but this move may change the Wallabies selector’s plans.
Exeter, meanwhile, have three Test centres on their books currently in England’s Henry Slade and Ollie Devoto, and Wales’ Joe Hawkins, which could hint at a potential departure at the end of the season.
This would be a statement signing by the Chiefs, and will come after director of rugby Rob Baxter recently said the Premiership must compete with big-spending clubs in Europe.
Baxter’s comments came after Leinster recruited All Black Jordie Barrett ahead of next season.
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“If Irish rugby, Leinster and the United Rugby Championship can get their house in order to allow them to invest in players, their programme and their coaches like they do, you have to say fair play,” he said.
“My response would be, ‘let’s not try to say it’s not fair and limit Leinster, let’s look to ways we can get to that level of competition with them’.
“You can look around and say, ‘let’s stop everyone else doing it because we can’t do it’. Or you go, ‘what are they doing to develop that level of interest and finance and why can’t we do it?’.
“I don’t think it’s bad for these competitions to have world-class players. What we want to find out is ways that we can do it as well.
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“You have to work to make the competition look attractive and the way the game is played look attractive.
“To get that deal in place to sign a player you have to get a lot of financial bits and pieces right – and that runs right from the top of the game to the bottom in the country.
“There’s a lot we have to do to get to that level, but why shouldn’t we be aiming for it? That’s what we should be trying to do.”
