Goodrick-Clarke aiming to add his power up front for Chiefs

DUBBED ‘Mr Incredible’ by the club on his official unveiling, Exeter Chiefs have not been shy in promoting the physical prowess of summer signing Will Goodrick-Clarke.

- MARK STEVENS

From announcing him single-handedly pushing the team bus around the Sandy Park car park to that of lifting 70kg dumbbells on each arm in the gym, the 28-year-old prop is certainly a tower of strength that the Devonians will be keen to utilise this season.

Up close and personal, he’s an imposing specimen with bulging biceps and an upper torso that’s as wide as it is tall.

It is, however, his onfield qualities that have drawn him to the attentions of the Chiefs, who believe he can be a cornerstone of their pack moving forward.

Having come across him previously at London Irish before their demise, the Chiefs continued to keep close tabs on the player last season during his season-long stint with Ealing Trailfinders in the Championship.

Rob Baxter clearly liked what he saw and with the likes of Alec Hepburn and Danny Southworth both moving on this summer, he wasted little time in recruiting the forward to bolster his options at loosehead.

“We think he’ll be a fantastic addition to our squad,” said the Chiefs’ director of rugby. “We know he’s desperate to get back playing in the Premiership and to push on and try to be successful and win trophies.”