\n<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will be aware that centre is a position that we\u2019ve had great strength in over a number of years,” director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website., external<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n “Through age and players moving on, that\u2019s slowly changed in terms of experience. So it\u2019s an area we\u2019ve been wanting to strengthen.” <\/p>\n Baxter added: \u201cUnfortunately, he\u2019s arrived with a neck issue which he picked up towards the end of last season\u2019s campaign, so we\u2019re now in a position where we\u2019ve had to address that and it\u2019s likely that he\u2019ll need an operation shortly which will require a period of rehab.<\/p>\n “He\u2019s going to miss the start of the season for us, but we\u2019re very confident he\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Tua will join Dafydd Jenkins on the sidelines when the season starts with the lock having surgery on his knee and shoulder<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n