Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter has ended his long chase for second row Aly Muldowney.
Baxter ends long chase for second row
Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter has ended his long chase for second row Aly Muldowney.
Baxter has been monitoring the progress of the 27-year-old over the past few seasons during his spells at Stafford, Stourbridge and Moseley.
However Baxter has now agreed a two-year deal to bring Muldowney to Sandy Park from Magners League side Glasgow Warriors.
"We actually had a good look at him a year or two ago and I had a good look at him playing games for Moseley," said Baxter.
"He was a big ball carrier in the Championship, he was probably Moseley's best attacking player in some ways, he got them over the gain line, but at the time I questioned his work rate a little bit.
"Obviously he's gone to Glasgow, he's in a lot better physical condition now, he's stripped off a fair bit of weight, he did his testing and medical a little while ago and to be fair to him he's obviously worked hard.
"When you watch him playing now for Glasgow he gets around, I've watched games where he's made 20 carries, 15 tackles, got around the pitch and made his clearouts and won his line-outs. He's going to have that work ethic we demand of our front-five forwards."
Exciting
Muldowney believes the move to the Chiefs will help develop him as a player.
"It's a really exciting move, not just for me, but also for my family as my wife has relatives who live down in Devon," said Muldowney.
"It's a lovely part of the world and we're all looking forward to moving down in the summer.
"I've come up against Exeter obviously in the past when I played for Moseley, so I know they are a very good team - that are not only skilful, but also very physical in the way they play. The facilities down at the ground are first class, so I'm well aware it is going to be a good environment for me to be in and around.
"Playing in the Magners League was obviously a step up in the standard I was used to in the Championship.
"I think I have added new things to my game during my time at Glasgow, but this is a great opportunity to further my career at a Premiership club. Again I think it will be another step up in terms of standard, but that can only be good for my game and my career in the long term."
