Miller extends his stay with Exeter

FORMER Gala and Borders flanker Andy Miller will take his bow in the Guinness Premiership next season after agreeing a new deal with Exeter Chiefs.

Miller, who joined Exeter in 2007 after the Border Reivers folded, has impressed Exeter coach Rob Baxter and his team-mates, winning the Players' Player of the Year' title in his first season. The 28-year-old openside was called up to the Scotland squad on the 2004 Australasia tour, while playing in Sydney, and wore the Scotland jersey against New South Wales Country in a midweek match. Back with the Borders, the blond-haired forward also played for Scotland 'A' in the 2006 and 2008 Churchill Cup tournaments.

He spent much of the 2008-9 season out with a head injury, but returned to action this season to help propel the Chiefs to the Championship title and into the Premiership for the first time.

Baxter said yesterday: "Andy has shown over a large number of games that he is a top-quality openside and I am delighted he will be part of our Premiership squad.

"I am really looking forward to seeing how Andy performs at the top level. I also believe Andy can still make improvements both in conditioning and in some areas of his technical game, which will help him and the team in the Premiership."

Miller will embolden the dwindling crop of Scots in England's elite league, which will also include the soon- to-be Gloucester quintet of Alasdair Strokosch, Rory and Scott Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson and Jim Hamilton.