EXETER have signed No.8 Carwyn Tuipulotu for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old, who has represented Wales at Under-20 level, played in France last season for Pau and was a free agent.

He has most recently been training with Dragons having previously played for Scarlets, and had a spell with Saracens in 2025.

“After speaking to boys who have been in and around Chiefs, they all spoke so highly of the club and its culture,” Tuipulotu said.

Tuipulotu is the son of former Tonga international Kati Tuipulotu and a cousin of Wales and Lions great Taulupe Faletau, Billy and Mako Vunipola, Kepu and Sisilia Tuipulotu, and current Exeter back row Greg Fisilau.

“I’m excited to have the chance to hopefully share the shirt with Greg,” Tuipulotu said. “We’re cousins but we grew up like brothers, so this is an extremely special opportunity.”

Chiefs were given injury dispensation to sign Tuipulotu after news that forward Richard Capstick could much of this season after a recurrence of a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old, who missed the start of last season with a knee problem, has not played since February and had surgery on his shoulder earlier this year.

Capstrick made his debut in a Prem Cup match in late 2018 and featured in his first Prem game the following February.

The former England U20 star has gone on to make 97 appearances, scoring nine tries, but has had just one injury-free season in the last four.

“The last operation failed, which puts him in a difficult scenario because then it’s difficult things you have to to work out,” said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter. “Do you have the operation redone? Do you try and see if there’s something else you can do?

“So he’s in that middle ground around what to have done and how to move forward, how to get things done and rehabbed. They’re long-ish term injuries anyway, and when one fails it just extends that injury time. He could be back this season but we’ll have to see.”