Two more key members of Exeter Chiefs' squad have signed new contracts with the Aviva Premiership club.
Both loose-head prop Brett Sturgess and prolific points-scoring fly half Gareth Steenson have accepted two-year deals, keeping them at Sandy Park until at least the summer of 2015.
It is the perfect Christmas present for supporters, coming hard on the heels of full-back Luke Arscott agreeing a new two-year contract.
Delighted Exeter head coach Rob Baxter said: "I am really pleased to have Brett and Gareth on board, because these guys have been key members of the side right through from the Championship, and I would like to think they are still improving.
"No player has a great game every single week, but if you look at the course of their development over the three seasons in the Premiership, they are players who are still improving, and that is very important to us, because I am a massive believer in you can't let anything stagnate.
"When you talk about key members of the team, it is not just on the pitch. It is good squad members and good guys off the pitch as well, and that's almost more important, because not everything we have done has been fantastic."
Speaking after Saturday's 18-16 defeat to Gloucester, Baxter added: "We have taken some beatings along the way and we have had some disappointments, and there are days like today to deal with.
"Often the strength of your club and your squad is how your players manage those situations. These are guys who have been part of a club who have dealt with that really well and I am delighted they are going to be with us ongoing."
The signing of such a key pair will be greeted with some relief by Exeter supporters, as the two players had been linked with moves to other clubs in recent weeks, with Sturgess said to be attracting interest from London Irish and London Wasps, and Steenson from Ulster.
Sturgess has been a virtual ever-present at prop in Exeter's Premiership starting line-up, barring a period last season when he was ruled out by injury, while Ulsterman Steenson, who regained his starting place from Ignacio Mieres at the end of September, has been in supreme kicking form and has amassed 992 points for the club.
"A fair bit of the linking with other clubs goes on because there are a number of players on the market, and directors of rugby look at the players who are available, and some they are interested in, and some they are not," said Baxter.
"There is always some kind of speculation, but the reality is if you are in the Heineken Cup, are enjoying what you are doing and having a decent Premiership season, you are in the box seat a little bit, and I think we feel we are, and we are a club where the players enjoy being.
"I think their first instinct is always to stay, but you just have to take your time and make sure it is a worthwhile situation for both the player and the club, and that is the case with the players we sign."
Exeter now have 22 of their senior players contracted for next season, with another 18 still to sign, or yet to be offered, new deals.
Those who have not put pen to paper at this stage include Tom Johnson, James Scaysbrook, Richard Baxter, Josh Tatupu, Gonzalo Camacho, Sireli Naqelevuki, Neil Clark, Ben Moon and Aly Muldowney.
"With Brett and Gareth now signed on, as well as Luke Arscott last week, we are starting to get through the bones of the team, and what we have got together for next year is pretty solid already," explained Baxter.
"What we have to do now is pin down the last few guys we want to from the current squad, and make sure the guys we want to bring in are there for us, and work hard and get the right guys, but at the minute I am pretty comfortable with where we are."
