Italy's Stephen Varney joins Exeter Chiefs for 2025/26 season

Exeter Chiefs have secured the signing of Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney from French club Vannes.

The 23-year-old will make the move to Sandy Park ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, marking his return to the Premiership after a brief stint in France.

Before his move to Vannes in October last year, Varney had made 42 Premiership appearances for Gloucester. However, since his arrival in the Top 14, he has featured in just seven first-team matches.

Speaking about the transfer, Varney expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating he was "absolutely thrilled" to be joining the Chiefs. He also described Exeter as "the perfect fit," emphasizing his eagerness to make an impact at the club.

Varney, who was born in Wales but represents Italy through his mother’s heritage, made his international debut in 2020 during the Autumn Nations Cup against Scotland.

Since then, he has earned 32 caps for the Azzurri and has established himself as a key player for the national team. His transfer to Exeter will also reunite him with fellow Italian international Ross Vintcent.

Varney’s departure from Gloucester was influenced by the club’s acquisition of Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams, which limited his first-team opportunities. His move to Exeter represents a fresh opportunity to showcase his talents in a competitive environment.

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter praised Varney’s potential, acknowledging that the young scrum-half is "still developing."

He highlighted Varney’s strengths, including his kicking, passing, and ability to bring tempo to the game.

"He's still developing as a player and moving towards what will be his prime years – both physically and mentally – as he keeps playing the level of rugby he is currently playing at," Baxter said.

Baxter also addressed previous speculation linking Exeter with Australian scrum-half Jake Gordon, firmly dismissing the rumors.

"We're going to be making an announcement on the scrum-half position, and no, it won't be Jake Gordon," he clarified.