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Ben White signs new Exeter Chiefs contract

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Ben White has set his sights on more silverware after extending his Exeter Chiefs contract. The Aussie flanker has become the 11th member of the squad to sign a new deal this season. The 31-year-old has agreed a two-year extension to keep him at Sandy Park until 2017. And with the club safely in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals and top of their LV= Cup pool, the former Cardiff Blues player hopes they can add to their Anglo-Welsh cup success of last season. "We all play to win trophies and we've got a good opportunity this year as we're in the quarter-final now, plus we're in the LV so it's exciting times," said White, ahead of Saturday's final European group game against Bayonne. "That's all in our hands and we know what we've got to do to win a final, now we've got to get there." White started 23 games last season but has been in and out of the side this term, with niggling injuries and Don Armand's form keeping him out. However, the openside said it was an easy decision to stay with the Chiefs. "It was a pretty easy decision. When Rob (Baxter) offered it to me, I was pretty happy to stay," he said. "Hopefully I can cement my spot. Don Armand's playing really well and Sam Simmonds is coming through so I want to cement a starting spot and play as well as I can and do the best for the team. "I think I've improved a lot as a player (since joining the Chiefs) on the field and also off the field with the conditioning staff. "My game understanding has improved a lot and knowing when the big moments are." Head coach Rob Baxter is pleased to have added to his squad for next season, with just nine senior players now waiting to see if they'll be offered a new deal. He praised the impact White has made since making the switch to Exeter in 2011, and said he is one of the hardest-working players on the pitch for his side. Baxter said: "I think Ben has been one of the success stories at Exeter Chiefs. We looked at him a year earlier than when he signed but it didn't work out for various reasons. "We thought Ben would fit in, he's an all-action back-row forward. His biggest quality is that you don't look at him and pull out his carries or pull out his collisions, it's the all-round package that you get. "The biggest compliment I can give to Ben is that very often when he plays his total of physical involvements in the game are the No. 1, as it often is, or second or third. "When you add together the number of successful clear-outs he makes as the first arrival, added to his tackles and how quickly he's back in the game and re-loading and contributing again in kick chase, that work-rate and effort to be involved in the game really is second to none. "On top of that he's a very interesting character in the squad, he's very well liked and the centre of a lot of changing room banter – both giving and taking – and it was a very easy choice for me to want to keep him around. He's been an energetic contributor to a lot of the things we've achieved over the last few years."

Ben White signs new Exeter Chiefs contract


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