Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby honoured by the University of Exeter

Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has celebrated another high profile achievement – being awarded an honorary degree by the University of Exeter.

Mr Baxter, who helped lead the rugby team to Premiership victory this year, received his doctorate just a day after his son Jack graduated from the University of Exeter with a first-class degree in Law.

Mr Baxter previously played with the team for 14 years, serving 10 of them as the club’s captain.  During his playing career he amassed over 300 appearances at the club’s old County Ground home.

Originally from Tavistock, Mr Baxter has lived in Exeter for over 40 years. Following his retirement from playing, he started his coaching career as the Director of Rugby at the University of Exeter and combined this with coaching at Exeter Chiefs, firstly with the United team and then as forwards coach.

Mr Baxter became head coach in 2009, and during his first season as coach, he led the team to promotion from the RFU Championship to the Aviva Premiership. He was named Director of the year in 2011/12 at the Aviva Premiership awards.

During his career as head coach at Exeter Chiefs, Mr Baxter has overseen five top six finishes in the league, winning the Anglo Welsh cup in 2014 and reaching the European Champions Cup quarter finals in the 2015-2016 season.

In the same season the Chiefs came runners up in the Aviva Premiership and last season they won the Aviva Premiership for the first time to become the Champions of England. He was also part of the England set-up for their summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay in 2013.