Ignacio Mieres signs two-year Exeter Chiefs contract extension

Exeter Chiefs fly-half Ignacio Mieres has signed a new contract to stay at Sandy Park until the summer of 2014.

The 24-year-old Argentina international has had a breakout season, scoring 240 points in all competitions.

Mieres stated his desire to extend his time at Sandy Park.

He signed a new one-year deal in May and has been the club's first-choice number 10 this season.

"It's great news both for ourselves and for Ignacio, he's been very keen to stay and we've been very keen to keep him," Exeter head coach Rob Baxter told BBC South West.

But with the Argentina national team set to join Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Rugby Championship in August, as well as autumn internationals, Mieres could miss a large chunk of the start of the season if he is called up by his country.

"It did complicate things a little, but we managed to have a good look at a few scenarios and we feel very comfortable with the back up that we've got to Ignacio," Baxter said.

"We're very aware that if we have to call on Gareth Steenson to be our number one next year for a long period of time we're very comfortable with that and we've also got some good back-up with Myles Dorrian and Henry Slade starting to come through.

"As pleased as we are to have Ignacio we're just as pleased to have such a strong group there fighting it out."

Mieres has played 22 times for Exeter this season after spending much of last term as back-up to Steenson and says he is pleased that the club has decided to keep him.

"I'm really grateful to Rob, the club and all the staff because they offered me a contract in a new, difficult situation.

"Nobody knows what's going to happen so they took a gamble with me and I'm really grateful for that.

"If Argentina choose to call me I will have to go, and of course it's a difficult situation for the club, but I'm sure they will do good, they have two great players in Steeno and Myles."