OMNISPORT

Exeter Chiefs will be without number eight Thomas Waldrom for this weekend's Premiership final against Saracens after he was ruled out for 12 weeks with a knee injury.

Waldrom suffered damage to his medial ligaments in last weekend's semi-final victory over Wasps at Sandy Park, the 33-year-old having come off the bench in the 34-23 win.

He will be unavailable at Twickenham, though, after head coach Rob Baxter confirmed Waldrom – Exeter's leading try scorer this season – was set for three months on the sidelines.

"It's very disappointing for Thomas because he has had a fantastic season," Baxter told Exeter's official website. 

"I feel for him missing out on the final because he has been a driving force for us now for a couple of seasons and been a big part of what we have done as a club

"I know initially Thomas was very disappointed, but once he got his head around things he's been very positive around the place this week and he will play his part up there this weekend in helping the guys get ready for the game."

There was a positive development for the Chiefs ahead of Saturday's final with the news scrum-half Will Chudley is free to play after a citing charge against him was dismissed.