Joe Hawkins: Exeter Chiefs expect rapid progress from Wales centre

Joe Hawkins has played three times for Exeter in the Premiership since his summer move from Ospreys

Exeter boss Rob Baxter expects rapid progress from Wales centre Joe Hawkins over the next few matches.

The 21-year-old moved to Sandy Park from Ospreys in the summer and made his first start in the loss at Northampton last weekend.

The move paused his international career as his five caps puts him short of the 25 needed to play for Wales while being at a non-Welsh club.

"We haven't seen anywhere near what he's capable of," Baxter said.

"But I'm pretty comfortable that will come as he settles in, gets comfortable with how we play and he did come in through pre-season with a few niggles.

"As those things settle down and he starts to fully load and in our systems and in our training I can only see a lot of growth there.

"I'm very pleased with where he's started, and I'm expecting a lot from him."

Joe Hawkins' last cap for Wales came against Italy in the Six Nations in March

Hawkins joined a growing list of Welsh players at Exeter - Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza were both part of the World Cup squad but remain eligible because they were at Exeter before being called up to the senior squad.

Wingers Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Dan John, along with hooker Oli Burrows are among the other former Wales youth internationals currently in Exeter's squad.

Hawkins burst on to the international stage at the Six Nations earlier this year having made his debut against Australia last November.

But his enforced exile from international rugby means he will have even more time to get used to Exeter and the Premiership throughout the season.

"The way it's formatted now we wouldn't lose him for many Premiership games anyway, but at the same time he'll stay involved with our group and our training and those things will all help cement things in," Baxter added to BBC Sport.

"I would expect pretty rapid progress from him over the coming weeks if he stays regularly involved and stays injury free because we've seen a lot of very good things in him both in training in pre-season with us, but also in other games he's played for other teams."