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Waratahs' skipper signs with Exeter

Sydney - Waratahs club captain Dave Dennis has signed for English Premiership side the Exeter Chiefs for three years.

The 30-year-old who has 18 Test caps for Australia will depart after this year's Super Rugby season, the Sydney-based outfit announced.

The Waratahs website on Tuesday paid tribute to Dennis saying he will leave "a lasting legacy, inspiring teammates with his professionalism and leadership qualities."

The big loose forward will join Reds prop Greg Holmes at Exeter, who were previously captained by his Waratahs team-mate Dean Mumm.

Dennis debuted in Super Rugby with the Waratahs in 2007 and has played for them 93 times.

He went on to win his first Test cap in 2012, but was side-lines with anterior cruciate knee ligament damage during the Waratahs' inaugural Super Rugby Championship year in 2014.

Dennis said he was comfortable with the decision to move overseas with former Wallaby captain Michael Hooper taking over the Waratahs' captaincy.

"I could easily stay here until my career ended but I've always wanted to challenge myself in a different environment," he said.

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter said he was saw a lot of similarities between Dennis and Mumm.

"He's got the right experience we want to recruit and the right leadership qualities which will be important because we have got some young players within the squad that we need to bring through," Baxter said.

"Yes, there are lots of similarities with Dean, positional-wise they can both play lock or in the back-row.

"They've both come from the Waratahs and, as I said, I've spoken to Dave, spoken to Dean, and they would have spoken themselves, and for me it's a comfortable and very good fit."

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