Aviva Premiership
Chiefs set to bag Brumby Phibbs
ESPNscrum Staff
August 29, 2011
Brumbies' scrum-half Patrick Phibbs celebrates his try, Brumbies v Cheetahs, Super 14, Canberra Stadium, April 10, 2010
Phibbs will provide a much needed option at half-back © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Rob Baxter | Patrick Phibbs
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Exeter Chiefs are on the verge of recruiting Brumbies scrum-half Pat Phibbs on a short-term deal.

Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is looking to add another half-back to his squad after seeing scrum-half Junior Poluleuligaga earn a call up to the Samoan squad for the World Cup. With Haydn Thomas carrying a slight knock following their friendly against Scarlets, it leaves the Sandy Park side with just one fully fit scrum-half - Kevin Barrett.

And Baxter is hoping to add Phibbs - who enjoyed a short-term move to Saracens during the 2003 World Cup - to the squad ahead of their opening clash of the Premiership with Leicester Tigers on Saturday. However, he concedes the Brumbies half-back's move may be held up due to work permit issues.

"We are looking to complete a deal with Pat Phibbs this week but that will depend on paperwork issues," Baxter said. "If everything goes through as we expect it to he could fly over in the middle of this week and be ready to start the season and we'd look to put him on a deal for September and October."

"As soon as we found out Junior was going to the World Cup we went into the market and straight away this was the one (Phibbs) that stood out for us to go for. We wanted to make sure we had plenty of cover during the World Cup because with Rob Coote not able to train at the moment we were a little bit light.

"Pat was available, he's keen to come to the UK and he was getting married which would mean he doesn't count as a foreigner. We'll know where we stand with his visa on Monday."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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