“People will be aware that centre is a position that we’ve had great strength in over a number of years,” director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website., external

“Through age and players moving on, that’s slowly changed in terms of experience. So it’s an area we’ve been wanting to strengthen.”

Baxter added: “Unfortunately, he’s arrived with a neck issue which he picked up towards the end of last season’s campaign, so we’re now in a position where we’ve had to address that and it’s likely that he’ll need an operation shortly which will require a period of rehab.

“He’s going to miss the start of the season for us, but we’re very confident he’ll be back on the pitch fairly early in the season and will be a player that will bring an awful lot to how we want to play, both in attack and defence.”

Tua will join Dafydd Jenkins on the sidelines when the season starts with the lock having surgery on his knee and shoulder.