Exeter Chiefs captain and former Wallabies second-rower Dean Mumm has signed a two-year contract extension with the English Premiership club to keep him at Sandy Park until 2016.
Head coach Rob Baxter said the former Waratahs forward's decision sends a warning to the rest of the competition not to try to poach the Chiefs' top stars.
Mumm, 29, joined Exeter in the summer of 2011 from the Waratahs, assuming the captaincy from Tom Hayes at the start of this season.
Exeter have risen quickly through the premiership ranks since their 2010 promotion and Baxter believes securing talismanic figures like Mumm to a new deal will help their fast-developing youngsters see their long-term future at the club too.
"He's been a fantastic signing for us since he turned up at the club in a lot of ways," Baxter said.
"I've spoken to a lot of people since he's taken over the captaincy and what a good job he's done, but first and foremost you've got to pin your place down as being a front-line player and he's done that.
"While he's been at the club he's grown into one of the real leaders within the side."
