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Exeter Chiefs signed by the former Scarlets and Pau No.8 Carwyn Tuipulotu with immediate effect, bolstering Rob Baxter’s options at the start of the Gallagher PREM season.
The 24-year-old comes as a free agent after leaving Top 14 side Pau over the summer and recently trained with the Dragons to maintain his fitness ahead of finding a new club.
Ex Wales The U20 international, who can operate across the back row but specializes as a No.8, previously made more than 45 appearances for the Scarlets before spending part of the 2024/25 season on loan at Saracens and then moved to France.
His arrival also reunites him with Exeter back-row Greg Fisilau, his cousin, with the pair having grown up together. Tuipulotu will join Bosses practice this week and is immediately available for selection.
Baxter used the injury relief slot to bring him in, with Richard Capstick still facing a lengthy rehab, and believes Tuipulotu’s carry game will add something different to his existing back row options.
“Having spoken to the boys who have been in and around Chiefs, they all speak so highly of the club and its culture,” said Tuipulotu.
“Speaking to Joe (Simmonds) and Harry (Williams) in France, they pointed out how family-oriented the club is which fits perfectly with my background and the culture I come from.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to hopefully share the shirt with Greg (Fisilau). Having grown up together, our families are just as excited. We’re cousins, but we’ve grown up as brothers, so it’s a very special occasion.”
“I’m really looking forward to hanging out with the lads and trying to contribute to what the club is trying to achieve.”
Baxter added: “Looking at our squad and the depth we have available at the moment, with Richard Capstick still having a long-term injury to rehabilitate, we took the opportunity to boost our numbers at the start of the season using the injury relief spot.
“My attention was drawn to Carwyn because he’s actually someone I’ve looked at before after being impressed with his ball-carrying ability.
“I liked what I saw in some of his last games last season for Pau, so I felt he would be a good addition for us and different to the players we already have.
“So we moved pretty quickly to bring him in. It would be good to see him add strength to the depth of our team and we look forward to seeing him pull on a Chiefs shirt in the near future.”