EXETER have handed a one-year professional contract to academy youngster Herbie Stupple.

The 19-year-old impressed everyone in the Chiefs' England Rugby Academy last season and helped Truro College win the Daily Mail Under-18s Cup.

Now head coach Rob Baxter wants to see Stupple — who is 6ft 2ins tall and weighs just under 18 stone — prove himself in the Exeter squad.

However, the Championship club have not yet decided on Stupple's best position. He grew up playing in the back row but was converted to inside centre last season.

Stupple, who is known as Herbie although his first name is Michael, becomes the second academy player to be awarded a professional deal following Josh Matavesi.

"We've made a decision to back the academy players," said Baxter. "Herbie was one of the top performers in that last season and was a key part of Truro's cup-winning side.

"He's a big strong lad, a very good rugby player but he probably hasn't settled on his best position yet. I think that's for us to help him with and to help him develop all aspects of his game.

"The challenge for Herbie is moving from being a big fish in a little pond into being with the senior guys. A lot of them have been professionals for several years and Herbie has to get up to the standards expected in terms of fitness, strength and conditioning as well as his personal life."

One of the areas Stupple is having to get to grips with in his new midfield role is kicking, but Baxter believes Exeter backs coach Ali Hepher is the ideal person to help him.

"One of the massive reasons for us going out to recruit Ali was what he could bring to our back play in all aspects," said Baxter. "The individual skill of tactical kicking is a massive part of the game nowadays and, for Herbie, that is one of the key elements he has to learn."

Baxter said Matavesi was settling in well to being a pro and stood out during the team's hill runs at Exhibition Fields yesterday. "Watching Josh train today, he was probably one of the standout performers," Baxter said. "Josh is thriving, he's taken the challenge with two hands and that's what we expect from all the youngsters who come through."