Franco Molina: Exeter Chiefs sign Argentina second row

Exeter Chiefs have signed Argentina second row Franco Molina.

The forward, who has won nine Test caps, joins after helping Argentina finish third in the Rugby Championship having registered wins over New Zealand, South Africa and Australia over the past two months.

The 27-year-old will help Exeter’s depth in the pack with injuries to players including Dafydd Jenkins and Lewis Pearson.

“We wanted someone who could come in game ready and Franco came up,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Sport.

“We managed to watch him playing for Argentina, he was there playing live and we could watch those games in the Rugby Championship.

“Obviously we liked what we saw, he could come literally the day after the Rugby Championship finished.”

As soon as Molina’s international clearance is received by Exeter he will be able to play for the Premiership side.

Molina, who joins from Argentine side Dogos, is the latest in a number of Argentinians who have played for the Chiefs, following Santiago Grondona, Santiago Cordero, Gonzalo Camacho and Ignacio Mieres.

“Watching him train I don’t think it’ll be very long until he’s really well settled in,” added Baxter.

“The props already like him scrummaging behind them and he already looks a switched on guy.

“He speaks very good English and I think he’ll be a very good player for us, I’m really excited to watch him play.”