Sport

Exeter City have received planning permission for a new grandstand at St James Park following an 8-2 vote in favour at Exeter City Council last night.

The new stand is to replace the existing Stagecoach Stand.

Club chairman Julian Tagg tweeted: "Result... @OfficialECFC get planning approval for new grandstand. 8-2!!!" following the conclusion of the vote.

Councillor Keith Owen, who represents the St James Ward, told BBC Radio Devon: "It was a good meeting in that everyone had their say on the issues. I, and the majority of residents in St James, will be disappointed...

Exeter Chiefs saw their 13-month long unbeaten home record fall by the wayside as defending Aviva Premiership champions Saracens came back from 11-0 down to record victory at a packed Sandy Park.

The league leaders chalked up their 10th win in 11 Premiership starts to extend their lead at the top of the table over the Chiefs to five points. A first half try from No.8 Samu Vunisa and three second half penalties from the Premiership’s all-time top points-scorer, Charlie Hodgson, saw Mark McCall’s side to success against Devon’s finest.

Earlier, though, all appeared rosy for...

Exeter Chiefs star Jack Nowell described England’s RBS Six Nations victory over Scotland as “massive” and hopes Eddie Jones’ side can now kick on in the competition.

In a hard fought encounter, Cornishman Nowell claimed his eighth international try as he followed up an earlier score from George Kruis to help England to a 15-9 success. Centre Owen Farrell kicked the remainder of the visiting points with Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw slotting three penalties for the Scots.

“It’s a massive result for us,” said Nowell post-match.

“There was nothing more important...

Before discovering HITZ, sport was the last thing on Govinda Kay’s mind – but now the rugby-mad teenager is reaching for the stars after collecting the Best Rugby Performer Award supported by Premiership Rugby.

Govinda, who found the programme through Exeter Chiefs, picked up the gong at the HITZ Awards Ceremony, hosted at Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf.

The multi award-winning HITZ programme uses rugby to increase young people's resilience, self-reliance and confidence and gives them the skills to get back into education, apprenticeships and employment. HITZ is run in...