LONDON: England lock Geoff Parling will join Exeter from English Premiership rivals Leicester on a two-year contract at the end of the season, the Chiefs announced on Thursday.
Parling, 31, has spent six years at Leicester, during which time he has won two Premiership titles and made three appearances for the British and Irish Lions, against Australia in 2013.
"There's no secret that this season we have looked a bit light in the second-row department at times and Geoff is a proven international performer," Exeter head coach Rob Baxter said on the club website.
"He adds great experience in running things like the line-out, he has got good leadership experience as well and all those things add up to it being a very good signing for us."
Parling, who has won 21 England caps, said that he did not see the decision to leave heavyweights Leicester as a backwards step.
"Since Exeter came up (in 2010), they've done things in the right way," he said.
"The first few years they stuck with the core of the squad that got them promoted and since then they've added the odd face here and there over the years. There hasn't been a massive turnover of players and I think that has helped them to develop as a club.
"The Chiefs are also a lot like Leicester. They are very much a traditional rugby club, they have a great support base and it's a real hot-bed of rugby down there."
Exeter, who are currently fifth in the table, also announced that they have signed winger Olly Woodburn from Bath on a two-year deal.
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