Another Exeter Chiefs player has left the club with immediate effect

Exeter Chiefs back-rower Santiago Grondona has moved to France to join Paul as a medical joker with immediate effect.

The flanker only scored a try for Chiefs last week as they blew away Sale Sharks to earn place in the Premiership Rugby Cup final.

Born in Buenos Aires, Grondona started his rugby career with the Champagnat club, before being part of the Jaquares squad, where he has featured previously in Super Rugby.

In December of last year, Grondona – along with compatriot Mateo Carreras signed for Newcastle Falcons – but his time in the North East was cut short after he sustained a serious knee ligament injury in training.

Cheifs boss Baxter already has a serious rebuild on his hands after a sixth first team star confirmed his departure from the club.

It’s already been revealed that key players Sam Simmonds (Montpellier), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Montpellier), Joe Simmonds (Pau), Dave Ewers (Ulster), Jannes Kirsten (Bulls) and Harry Williams (Montpellier) will all leave the club.

Below, we take a look at five players who've ben linked with a move to Sandy Park.

The Rugby Paper have reported today that Moriarty could return to the Premiership next season with Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints bidding for his services.

Destructive and powerful back row Moriarty joined the Dragons in the summer of 2018 after moving from Gloucester.

Having played for England Under 18 and Under 20, Moriarty made his Wales international debut against Ireland in August, 2015.

He originally missed out on selection for Warren Gatland’s 2015 World Cup squad but was brought in after Eli Walker’s hamstring injury forced the Ospreys winger out of the tournament.

DID YOU KNOW? Moriarty’s father Paul played in the first World Cup in 1987 before forging a successful rugby league career with Widnes.

The three-cap Wales International made his international debut during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.

With the 60 cap rule to represent Wales set to be scrapped, the centre would be free to make the move to Sandy park and continue his international career.

According to Midi Olimpique, the 20-year-old is close to agreeing a deal but is waiting to the rule change to be confirmed. Ospreys hooker Nicky Smith is also linked with a move to Sandy Park.

Hawkins first featured in the Wales U20 squad at the age of just 17 and made his regional debut for the Ospreys as an 18-year-old.

Equally adept at both outside-half and centre and a proficient goal kicker, Hawkins studied BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence) at Neath Port Talbot College.

Hawkins hails from Ystalyfera and is a former student at Cwmtawe Comprehensive School, playing most of his youth rugby at Pontardawe RFC with time also spent at Neath Athletic.

He graduated through the Ospreys’ academy after playing for Swansea Valley in the Dewar Shield, with a brief stint at Aberavon cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

Linked with a move to Exeter Chiefs by The Rugby Paper, Newcastle's versatile back-rower would add some serious bite to Exeter's depleted pack.

Part of the Falcons squad which earned promotion during 2019-20, Chick recovered from a serious knee injury during the back half of the 2020-21 season and earned an England call-up for their summer tests, making his debut against the USA at Twickenham in July 2021.

Scoring four tries in his 21 appearances during 2021-22, including captaining the side on a number of occasions, Chick went on to play for England in their end-of-season fixture against the Barbarians.

Chiefs have been linked with a potential move for Bristol Bears hooker Harry Thacker who has spent the last five years in the West Country.

The 28-year-old former England U20 international, above, has been playing for the Bears since leaving his hometown club Leicester Tigers where he started his career.

Rob Baxter is in the market for another hooker after it was confirmed Luke Cowan-Dickie will join Montpellier next season.

Baxter is looking at Racing 92’s versatile Fijian international Ben Volavola as they search for someone to replace Joe Simmonds, who will reportedly leave the club this summer.

The 31-year-old fly-half has been well-travelled since starting his career in Australia with the Waratahs a decade ago.

He has yet to play in the Premiership, but that could be about to change.