CONFIRMED: Exeter Chiefs complete double signing

The imposing 6ft 8in, 18 stone, second-row forward joins the Chiefs from Aussie Super Rugby side, Western Force, and will provide a quality option up front for Exeter Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, ahead of the new 2021/22 season.

“I’ve heard lots about the Exeter fans and how passionate they are,” McCauley said. “The stadiums over here are a lot more compact and the fans are right on you, but that’s something I like. Right now, I just want to get up to speed, amongst the boys, and then hopefully get amongst the action.

“The Premiership, I know, is a tough division. The perception of it has perhaps changed a fair bit over the last two or three years back home. It’s a lot more expansive these days and you only had to look at the games towards the end of last season, there were a lot of tight finishes and a lot of points scored.

“You can see it’s a lot more attacking and I can’t wait to be part of it all.”

Chiefs have also bolstered their front-row options with the signing of tight-head prop Sam Nixon from French Top 14 side, Bayonne

The 24-year-old returns to the Gallagher Premiership after a season in France, where he featured prominently for Bayonne in the Top 14.

Before that, the Dorchester-born tight-head was part and parcel of Bath’s squad, where he ran out for them in the Premiership, Heineken Champions Cup, as well as the Premiership Rugby Cup.