Leinster's Dunne and O'Loughlin to join Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs have signed Leinster pair Jack Dunne and Rory O'Loughlin for next season.

The Premiership club confirmed the signings this afternoon, with Dunne's move widely reported in recent months, while O'Loughlin's departure only became apparent in recent days.

"We're kind of looking for different things from the two players, but we believe we have got that with these two guys. They have got good experience, come from a very good environment, where they have been part of a high performing team and training unit, so they tick a lot of boxes for us," Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said.

"We have played against Leinster numerous times and you can see the success they have had in both their domestic competition, as well as in Europe."

Centre O'Loughlin has played 92 times for Leinster since making his debut in 2016, winning four URC titles and a Heineken Cup along the way, and earned his sole Ireland cap on the summer tour of Japan in 2017.

However, he's found first team opportunities limited this season, with Jamie Osborne becoming more and more prominent in the side.

Twenty-three-year-old Dunne (below) had been expected to leave the province since it emerged they were in the market for Munster second row Jason Jenkins.

The 6ft 8in lock - who is English qualified - has only featured 17 times in senior competition for Leinster across the last four seasons.

"Jack, as soon as I looked at clips of him impressed me a lot," added Baxter.

"He's a big guy, but he’s a big guy who can really move. He’s young, the right age, and everything I saw in the clips I liked. Meeting him here at Sandy Park doing his medical was good. He has had a relatively significant injury in recent times, so if people have been looking to him playing over