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Exeter Chiefs suffered their first recruitment setback of the new season, with hard-nosed Josh Iosefa-Scott set to move to France when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Iosefa-Scott, 30, was a key actress Bosses reached the Gallagher PREM final last season, but next season he will play for Pro D2 hopes for the improvement of Provence, according to The team.
Provence aims to promote in Top 14 after losing the ‘Access Match’ 47-24 to Perpignan last season. They started this season with five straight wins and are undefeated, along with Shave and leaders Oyonnax, who are two bonus points away from the chasing pack.
Iosefa-Scott, who is 6ft 4in tall, has been nominated for May’s Gallagher Player of the Month award. He arrived in Sandy Park in 2021 from Highlanders and Waikato and could make a 100th appearance if played against Bath this weekend.
Touted for an England call-up last season, Hamilton native Iosefa-Scott scored a try in a loss to Gloucester on the weekend, and his departure will be the first blow under Black Knight Entertainment’s ownership of the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, the bosses are watching Edinburgh winger Malelili Satala, who entered the final year of his contract in July and impressed with a try against Ulster on opening night United Rugby Championship season.
Satala, who is qualified in English, started his career with Leicester Tigers in the PREM Rugby Cup and then for Nottingham in the Championship. He could be a replacement for Olly Woodburn if he decides to retire at the end of the season.
Chiefs are well-stocked with wingers, with Campbell Riddle, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe among their options, but could face competition for his signature from Bristol Bears.
The Bears are also thought to be in the market for England-capable players and are monitoring his situation, particularly as Louis Rees-Zammit, like Feyi-Waboso, will not miss the first few months of the season while at the Rugby World Cup.
