Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon looks all but certain to be heading to Exeter alongside Len Ikitau after glowing praise from the English club’s director of rugby.
The Roar exclusively revealed this week that Gordon, 31, was in discussions with the club, and Rob Baxter confirmed the interest on Thursday.
While Baxter did not quite rubber stamp incomings of Ikitau or Gordon, the way he spoke of them left little to the imagination – and might be a blow to Rugby Australia if they are eager to hold onto the star players.
“At nine, people are aware we’re looking to add a little bit of experience and quality there as well, and so obviously, you know Jake Gordon certainly fits that bill. He’s a very good player,” Baxter said.
Jake Gordon. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“He has very much come to prominence in the last three or four years both at his club and internationally. He is obviously a very good player, but like I said, we’re looking at, and we’ve looked at, a lot of nines.”
Baxter has supercharged the Exeter recruitment and he said announcements around key talent would likely be made “within the next week.” Ikitau’s move has all but been confirmed by media reports, including The Roar.
“We’ve looked at a lot of hookers, we’ve looked at a lot of centres so as I said we’re in the process now. Len Ikitau is a fantastic player, isn’t he? And he is one we’d love to have here at Exeter, to put it that way.
“As far as Australian players are concerned, you have a long history of them going back to Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Nic White, Dave Dennis, Lachie Turner was here for a while and we have got Scott Sio and Tom Hooper is arriving.”
Julian Heaven, a hooker who is English-eligible and rose to prominence last year during the Waratahs’ injury crisis, is another who is off to the Chiefs.
The Roar understands Ikitau has already agreed to a nine-month deal that will see the centre arrive in the south west of England later this year and likely return to the Brumbies following the 2026 Super Rugby season.
Although Ikitau will head overseas, the fact he has indicated he will return to Super Rugby will mean the Wallabies will continue to pick him.
As part of his deal with Exeter, Ikitau has had clauses built into his deal that will see him largely be eligible for selection.
Ikitau will only miss the Tests against Japan and France later this year after RA and Exeter came to an agreement to free up his eligibility for the Tests against England, Italy and Ireland.
Gordon has attracted interest from clubs in England, France and Japan.
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