Foster finally back in action

The former Gloucester star hasn't featured since breaking his leg in a league match against Leicester Tigers at the beginning of January.

Foster missed the final five months of what proved to be an outstanding season for the Chiefs as they defied the odds to retain their Aviva Premiership status and come within a whisker of reaching the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter finals.

The 27-year-old was forced to watch from the sidelines while his team-mates finished eighth in the Premiership and finished second in their Amlin pool in what was their first-ever season of European rugby.

But after plenty of hard work, and no shortage of frustration, Foster finally laced up his boots at the recent JP Morgan Sevens event in Bath.

"I want to be as big a personality as I can be within the side and push us on to another successful year," he said.

Foster's first taste of 15-a-side action is likely to come in the pre-season clash with Connacht on 13 August with the Chiefs kicking off their Premiership campaign at home to Leicester on 3 September.

Exeter's second Amlin Challenge adventure will then see them face former Heineken Cup finalists Perpignan, Welsh region Newport Gwent Dragons and Italian outfit Cavalieri Prato.