Sport

Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess is hopeful he will get to feature during the club's pre-season build-up as he draws ever nearer to a competitive return.

The 32-year-old forward has been sidelined since December when he sustained a serious knee ligament injury in the dying moments of his side's loss to Harlequins in Big Game 6 at Twickenham.

Since that untimely blow Sturgess has been grafting away on his rehabilitation programme, ensuring he not only recovers from the injury, but gets himself in perfect nick for what promises to be another big season for the Westcountry...

Next Tuesday sees the social highlight of the season at Newton Abbot with the popular St Austell Brewery, Ladies’ Day, mixing fashion with an evening of summer jumps racing.

The racing action starts at 6.00pm with the Triton Galleries Maiden Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs and the curtain comes down with the Welcome Back Again Sean Dooner Lady Amateur Riders´ Handicap Hurdle at 8.45pm.

The two most valuable races of the evening are the St Austell Brewery Novices´ Chase over an extended two miles and five furlongs and the teamremovals.com Handicap Hurdle.

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Whilst the Aviva Premiership will always be the 'bread and butter' for Exeter Chiefs, head coach Rob Baxter insists European competition also has a key role in his side's seasonal aspirations.

Earlier this week the Devon club were paired with French duo Bayonne and La Rochelle, as well as Irish outfit Connacht in Pool Two of the new-look European Professional Rugby Challenge Cup.

Poised for a fifth adventure into Europe, Baxter believes past experiences - particularly those in the Heineken Cup over the last two years - have helped not only to mould his team, but at the same...

Henry Slade is expecting yet another exciting continental adventure when the new European Rugby Challenge Cup gets underway next season.

The Chiefs have been drawn alongside Bayonne, La Rochelle and Connacht in Pool 2, a group that provides plenty of challenges but also some intriguing away trips for the Aviva Premiership outfit.

"It's a tough group, as always. We've played Connacht a couple of times in pre-season and that's always been a difficult game for us. Bayonne have got some big-name players so they'll be a big test, and La Rochelle will be a great way to break up...