Exeter Chiefs have announced that Mitch Lees has signed a contract extension keeping him with the Aviva Premiership side until 2017.

The Australian back-rower joined the side from London Welsh last year, making 24 appearances in his first season with the club.

Head coach Rob Baxter told the club's website: "We feel there is still a lot of development in him and we have only scratched the surface with him.

"He has not been in a professional training environment for very long, but he is obviously a big guy and he is a very good rugby player. He had a very good first season for us, so we moved very early to extend his contract for the next two years."

Exeter finished fifth in the table last season, narrowly missing out on a spot in the playoffs.