Watisoni Votu visa issue frustrates Exeter Chiefs boss

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he has been frustrated by delays over getting a visa for Fijian winger Watisoni Votu.

The 27-year-old Fiji international has still to join up with the Chiefs, despite agreeing a deal in the summer.

"It's not worked out fantastically well and the visa application process hasn't been great for us," Baxter told BBC South West.

"It's still very much there, but until the licence application comes through we can't do too much more."

Votu is expected to be in the Europe next month for the autumn internationals as Fiji take on France, Wales and Italy.

The powerful winger needs a tier five license, which allows sportsmen to work in the UK for up to 12 months and Exeter hope to have this in place by the end of the month.

"It's still a goer as long as we can get through a very complicated and long-winded license application," Baxter said.

"I won't lie, the plan was to have Watisoni Votu here for the start of the season to give us an extra winger while Gonzalo Camacho wasn't here.

"But we're looking at him as a guy who is very much a development prospect anyhow.

"So do we go through with it and try and get him over here and look at that potential and try to develop that potential or do we let it go?

"I think the value is on us looking at him and trying to develop his potential."