Exeter Chiefs Add Tamati Tua and Kwenzo Blose to Ranks for New Season

Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their squad with the signings of centre Tamati Tua and loosehead prop Kwenzo Blose as they aim to return to the Premiership play-offs after a third consecutive seventh-place finish last season.

Tua, 26, arrives from the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby, where he has impressed with 31 appearances and five tries since joining in 2023. However, Exeter will need to manage without Tua at the start of the new Premiership season. The New Zealand native is set to undergo surgery for a neck injury and will face a period of rehabilitation before making his debut for the Chiefs.

“People will be aware that centre is a position that we’ve had great strength in over a number of years,” said Exeter’s director of rugby, Rob Baxter. “Through age and players moving on, that’s slowly changed in terms of experience. So it’s an area we’ve been wanting to strengthen.” Baxter noted the unfortunate timing of Tua’s injury but remains hopeful about his future impact on the team.

Blose, 27, joins Exeter from the DHL Stormers in the United Rugby Championship. The former South Africa Under-20 international made his professional debut with Western Province in 2018 before moving to the Stormers in 2020. Baxter expressed confidence in Blose’s potential, describing him as an “exciting, strong, and very important member of our squad going forward.”

With these new additions, Exeter Chiefs are aiming to enhance their squad depth and experience as they seek to improve on their recent performances and make a stronger push for the Premiership play-offs in the upcoming season.