Cornish Pirates have signed Exeter prop Ehren Painter on a short-term loan.
The 28-year-old tight-head is returning to full fitness having been out for 15 months with a knee ligament injury.
Painter played against the Royal Navy in a friendly last month and is in Pirates’ squad to face Coventry in the Champ on Saturday.
The former Northampton forward joined Exeter in the summer of 2023 and has not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in training in December 2024.
“We’re incredibly keen to get Ehren playing and getting genuine game-time because that makes him much more selectable in our line-up,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website.
“Coming back from a long-term injury without some solid game-time to then go into a Gallagher Prem game or a European one, that would be tough.
“So, it’s worked out well that Pirates are in a position to need a prop to help them out.
“It’s a great chance to get Ehren some really valuable game-time and hopefully get him back ready to play regularly.”