Exeter Chiefs sign Stephen Varney

Exeter Chiefs have completed the signing of Italian international scrum half, Stephen Varney, ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Proven capable at Premiership level having previously made 42 appearances in the league for Gloucester, the half-back joins Chiefs from French Top 14 outfit Vannes whom he switched to in October 2024.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Exeter Chiefs and getting back into the Premiership,” Varney said. “The club has fantastic history and an incredible fanbase.

“As soon as the opportunity came up, it just felt like the perfect fit. I can’t wait to get started and give my all for the team.”

The 23-year-old half-back will join Chiefs to bring international experience to the scrum-half berth.

Born in Carmarthen, Wales, Varney qualifies to play for Italy through his mother. He made his debut for the Azzuri in a 2020 Autumn Nations Cup clash against Scotland.

A product of the Gloucester Rugby Academy, Varney earned a senior call-up after putting in repeated impressive performances for the U18s alongside future first-team teammates Louis Rees-Zammit and Jack Clement.

On the international circuit, Varney is used to competing with some of his country’s best as he regularly goes up against the likes of Alessandro Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo in trying to secure the number nine shirt.

Varney will join another Italian international, Ross Vintcent, in the Chiefs ranks in a signing Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes could benefit both player and club.

“We’re really pleased to have Stephen becoming a Chief next season,” Baxter said. “He’s a young player who at just 23 has already played a lot of rugby. He’s still developing as a player and moving towards what will be his prime years – both physically and mentally – as he keeps playing the level of rugby he is currently playing at.

“He’s got a very good set of basic, core skills around quality of kicking and passing as well as the tempo he can bring into the game. We’ve spent some time and effort looking at investing in the spine of the team and making sure we have high quality players in those positions to help us move forward in the coming seasons.

“So, we’re looking forward to having Stephen on board. We’ve been very impressed with him in the meetings we’ve had. He’s a guy who is very much on the upward curve in terms of his own performance and he will help us achieve what we want to achieve going forward.”