A RUGBY ace with East Lothian connections has signed a new deal with English Premiership outfit Exeter Chiefs.

Ollie Atkins, whose dad Michael is from Haddington, signed a new two-year deal with the Sandy Park club.

The lock joined the Aviva Premiership outfit in summer 2015, after a two-year spell with Edinburgh Rugby, where his form earned him a Scotland A cap against England in 2014.

Atkins (pictured, by Exeter Chiefs) was signed by Edinburgh after playing for the Waratahs in his native Australia, including an eye-catching performance against the British and Irish Lions.

This season, he has fallen behind Mitch Lees and Damian Welch as the partner to England international Geoff Parling in the Chiefs’ engine room, but was pleased to have agreed a new deal.

The 28-year-old tweeted: “So excited to be staying at Sandy Park for another couple of years.”

Meanwhile, Rob Baxter, the club’s head coach, was full of praise for the lock, who has made eight appearances – and only two starts – this season.

Baxter said: “We see huge potential in him. He’s a very good guy to have in and around the place, he’s popular within the squad and he’s filled in and played well whenever we’ve asked him to.

“We’re delighted to extend him because we see a lot of good stuff coming through him.

“The longer he’s with us, the more he will establish himself.”