Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher is expecting the Aviva Premiership to be even tougher when it returns to full-on action in early September.
Last season the Chiefs finished sixth in arguably their toughest top flight campaign to date – an outcome which ensured the Devon club would be competing amongst Europe’s elite in the Heineken Cup once more. However, Hepher believes the 2013/14 season will see the standard rise even further and has issued a timely warning to his players of what to expect. “It always cranks up a notch,” said Hepher. “If you stand still you fall behind...
A New Year begins in earnest for the Exeter Chiefs tomorrow and assistant coach Ali Hepher is hopeful his side will get 2013 off to a bang by seeing off visiting Northampton Saints at Sandy Park (3pm).
After a Christmas period which could - and probably should - have brought a sackful of points from clashes with Gloucester and Bath, the Devon club ended up more with leftovers, rather than the rewards their hard-working efforts merited.
The boot of England international Freddie Burns ultimately denied the Chiefs in a ding-dong battle at Kingsholm, before a late...
Exeter Chiefs put their unbeaten home record in the Aviva Premiership on the line tomorrow when they play host to London Wasps in the day's late kick-off (5.30pm).
Having seen off Sale Sharks, Saracens, Harlequins and Worcester Warriors at Sandy Park this term, Exeter's assistant coach Ali Hepher wants his side to at least replicate those displays against a much-improved Wasps line-up.
Whereas last season's Dai Young's side spent much of the campaign fighting relegation with Newcastle Falcons, this time round the Wycombe-based outfit appear to be much improved and last...
Ali Hepher knows his side are not a “million miles” away from challenging for top honours in this season’s Aviva Premiership, but he was left frustrated after Exeter Chiefs slipped to their second home defeat of the season against leaders Saracens.
With just minutes remaining at a packed Sandy Park, the Chiefs were denied for a second time in the contest by TV match official David Sainsbury, who claimed there was “inconclusive evidence” to award a late try for Exeter’s England international Tom Johnson.
Although watching countless replays of the flanker hurtling towards the...
