Kai Horstmann, Carl Rimmer & Ben Moon agree new Exeter deals

Ben Moon (left), Kai Horstmann (centre) and Carl Rimmer have all agreed new deals with the Chiefs

Exeter forwards Kai Horstmann, Carl Rimmer and Ben Moon have agreed new contracts with the Premiership club.

Props Rimmer, 28, and Moon, 25, have agreed deals until the summer of 2017, while back-row Horstmann, 33, stays at the club until the end of next season.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have also signed 21-year-old prop Alec Hepburn from Australian side Perth Spirit.

The former Wasps and London Welsh player has agreed a deal that will keep him at Sandy Park until 2017.

The Australia-born youngster was part of the England Under-20s team that won the Junior World Cup in 2013, playing alongside Exeter quartet Jack Nowell, Sam Hill, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie in the tournament in France.

Alec Hepburn will have to wait to make his Exeter debut as he recovers from a knee injury

"He went to Australia for personal family reasons, but when we knew he was coming back to the UK we had a good look at him in those Championship games and had a chat with our lads who played with him for England Under-20s and it all came back very positively," said Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter

"I think you've always got to be on the look out for those kind of players as well as the players you look for to add experience and decision making.

"He fits the bracket of being a young, exciting player we feel over the next two, three, four years will come through as potentially a top-flight player."

Horstmann moved to Exeter from Worcester in 2012 and has started three games this season, while Moon is a former England youth international, who come up through Exeter's academy ranks and made his debut in the old National One against Sedgley Park in 2008.

Former Cornish Pirate Rimmer, who was due to be out of contract in the summer, has made 17 appearances this season, scoring three tries, and is in his third campaign with the Chiefs.

"Signing Moony and Rimmer is an indication of how we think they've done this season," said Baxter.

"Over the course of the season, these guys look to me like they're maturing and improving. Neither are particularly old for a prop and they are both coming through into regular Premiership rugby for the first time.

"Kai is one of those guys who is great to have around the squad. He's played very well for us this season and at the end of last season, he's a very good guy to have around the squad and is a very good trainer.

"I'm really pleased all three are staying. They're going to be part of a group of players we hope will grow together."