Exeter Chiefs and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie could still join Montpellier next season, according to reports in France.
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Cowan-Dickie’s move to Montpellier has hit a few snags recently, with reports of a neck injury ruling him out of the move while he missed a medical assessment after a drunken night out.
Injury and missed medical assessment
The England hooker was sidelined for the 2023 Six Nations and the remainder of Exeter’s season due to an ankle injury he sustained against Northampton Saints in January.
However, that injury is not the one that has put Cowan-Dickie‘s move in doubt. L’Equipe reported that the England international has a cervical problem.
While the injury would not end his career, the medical regulations in France are far stricter than those in England, and there is hope that his injury is not rated G3, which would prevent him from joining Montpellier.
Adding to the situation is that RMC Sport reported a fortnight ago that he did not turn up for the second day of medical tests due to being hungover.
The move could still go ahead
RMC Sport now reports that the new move could still happen as Cowan-Dickie was seen at the GGL Stadium, Montpellier’s home ground, on Thursday (May 4) to complete his medical.
Depending on the results of the tests, he could join the defending Top 14 champions on a two-year deal with the option of a third year.
He is set to link up with current Exeter teammate Sam Simmonds at the French side, while Harry Williams is also set to join the team.
The hooker is poised to make his return from injury in time for the Rugby World Cup and will likely make Steve Borthwick’s squad despite his limited game time.
If the deal is completed, Cowan-Dickie would only link up with Montpellier in November, following England’s World Cup campaign.
Cowan Dickie’s career to date
The hooker is one of the success stories of the Exeter Academy, having worked his way up to the senior squad, where he has played over 160 times.
Although he started his career as a loosehead prop, he made the switch to the centre of the front-row in order to further his career, and it paid off.
He helped England u20s win the 2013 Junior World Championships and made his Test debut in 2015.
With Exeter, he has won the LV= Cup, two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup, winning the latter two as a double in 2020.
On the international stage, he was part of the 2016 Grand Slam Six Nations squad and reached the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Cowan-Dickie toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2021, playing in all three Test matches, starting two.
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