Keast Remains a Chief by Signing New Contract

Exeter Chiefs loosehead prop Billy Keast has committed his future to the club by signing a contract extension.

The Cornwall born-and-raised prop has been a part of the Chiefs squad since his debut in 2016 so is looking forward to continuing to call Sandy Park home.

"I'm delighted to have re-signed with the club. I'm looking forward to seeing how far this group of players can go and I want to be a part of that.

"Chiefs is the club I've grown up following and I hope to merit my place within our squad after a few setbacks.

"Let's see where 2024/25 takes us!"

Keast’s pathway to the Chiefs first team started at Truro College where he integrated into the Exeter academy set-up. Progressing through the ranks, he tested his development in the National leagues with Plymouth Albion, the Championship with Cornish Pirates and on the age-grade international stage with England U20s.

Debuting for Chiefs against Harlequins in an Anglo-Welsh clash in 2016, the 27-year-old has since made 50 career appearances for the club in all competitions – the Premiership Cup, the Champions Cup and the Gallagher Premiership.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter is pleased to be keeping Keast’s experience amongst the ranks of his props.

“Billy is someone whose been with us for a long time now having come up through the academy. He was really starting to make an impression for us a couple of seasons ago, and I remember in our double-winning year him being hugely involved in that period post-COVID when we were playing two games a week.

“He was one of the starting front rows then, having a really big impact for us. He was kind of fundamental in our drive to what we achieved that season. Since then, he’s had very unfortunate luck with injuries – a couple of them pretty serious – but he’s been back fully fit for a good chunk of the season.

“He’s played some very good rugby for us at the tail end of the season, so hopefully now that will be the injury issues behind him, and he can look to push on to have some more consistent seasons in the future.”

Keast joins fellow loosehead Scott Sio in remaining at Sandy Park next season.