Exeter have confirmed scrum-half Pat Phibbs has agreed to extend his stay until the end of the season.
Australian to stay until the end of the season
Exeter Chiefs have confirmed experienced Australia scrum-half Pat Phibbs has agreed to extend his stay until the end of the season.
Phibbs initially arrived at Sandy Park back in September on a short-term deal to provide cover while Samoa international Junior Poluleuligaga was away at the World Cup.
However the 30-year-old has been handed a new contract after impressing during his time at the Chiefs.
And having appeared in two LV= Cup games, as well as two second team games, the former Australia A international is targeting forcing his way into the club's Premiership and European plans.
"I'm delighted to be staying on with the club," said Phibbs, who will be competing with Haydn Thomas, Kevin Barrett and Poluleuligaga for the No.9 shirt.
Ferocious
"The set-up here is fantastic and I've loved every minute of it so far. I've been working hard these last few months and I've just been trying to put my best foot forward, so it's nice to be rewarded with the new contract.
"I've definitely picked up it's a most physical game over here and the breakdown is a lot more ferocious.
"Also the reliance on the set-piece is a lot more, especially the scrum which you can see is used as a real attacking weapon. As a scrum-half it's great to be behind a pack life the Chiefs each week."
Head coach Rob Baxter added: "Pat's deserved it, he's earned it the hard way.
"I suppose the thing that has impressed me most about him is that he came to us in difficult circumstances. He arrived on a short-term contract; he had very little time to prove himself and there was no guarantee that he would get any game time or a contract in the future. Yet from day one he has got stuck in and worked extremely hard.
"Initially we weren't selecting him for the Premiership games because both Haydn and Kev were bang on form and playing well, so it was difficult for him. However, a few A games and the LV= Cup games come along and things changed for him. He played well; he leads the team well and all of a sudden you start to see a lot of good things, which I suppose has influenced quite a bit."
