Chiefs star joins Premiership rivals

Luke Cowan-Dickie will play at Sale Sharks

Premiership rivals Sale Sharks have signed Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.

The England and British and Irish Lions player was set to join French Top 14 side Montpellier following the 2023 Rugby World cup. However, the move fell through which subsequently allowed Sale to sign the Exeter Chiefs veteran.

In April, Exeter boss Rob Baxter denied that Cowan-Dickie’s move to France had been called off despite reports of missing a medical.

Due to the Premiership’s salary cap, Exeter had already lost several other players to international teams.

Cowan-Dickie will join former Exeter players Jonny Hill, Tom O’Flaherty, and Byron McGuigan at Sale.

He has high hopes for the coming season and “wants to win and is confident they [Sale Sharks] will have a successful year”.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson is also looking forward to Cowan-Dickie’s time at Greater Manchester club and believes it will be an exciting time for them.

Multiple Exeter stars have left Sandy Park, with Sam Simmonds and Jack Nowell both moving to the French league.