Greg Holmes admits he is loving the “ruthless” nature of rugby life in the Northern Hemisphere following his move from the Queensland Reds to Exeter Chiefs last summer.
Several months into his new start at Sandy Park, the experienced Aussie tight-head has got to learn first-hand about the demands of duty in not only the Aviva Premiership, but also the European Champions Cup and the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
“Looking at it from the other side of the world you probably don’t realise how full on it is here,” said the 33-year-old forward. “Now I’ve been here a few months you see how...
An influential Devon conservation charity has announced the appointment of its new Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Dr Peta Foxall is taking over the role at Devon Wildlife Trust. She will head the charity’s Board of Trustees, the body which determines the Trust’s strategic direction.
As with all the charity’s trustee board members, Dr Foxall’s position is an unpaid, voluntary one.
Dr Foxall brings a wide range of experience to the leadership role. Her background is in senior positions in the fields of education, science and health. She holds a PhD in biological...
Russell Norman and business partner Richard Beatty are set to open Polpo in Exeter's Queen St Dining Quarter next month.
Polpo is modelled on the scruffy wine bars of Venice and feels urban, rustic and stripped back.
Guests enter through a heavy red velvet curtain to find a zinc topped bar and linen-draped lamps. The interiors feature a reclaimed timber floor, rusted tin ceiling and a huge three-metre skylight that floods the restaurant with light. Polpo's trademark deep red leather banquettes line the walls alongside old chemistry lab tables, classic bentwood chairs and...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after landing England international Matt Kvesic as his first new signing for next season.
A long-time admirer of the all-action forward, Baxter has signed the 24-year-old from Aviva Premiership rivals Gloucester Rugby on a three-year deal.
In welcoming Kvesic to Sandy Park, Baxter – who had tried to sign the former Worcester Warriors player before his move to Gloucester – said: “We were probably a little disappointed not to sign him when he moved from Worcester initially. We would have liked to have signed him...
Stagecoach South West has launched mobile ticketing through its smartphone app, allowing customers to instantly buy and download day tickets to their smartphones.
The introduction of mobile ticketing technology means customers can buy their day ticket and have it ready to use before boarding the bus. Day tickets bought via the app can be paid for using PayPal, or a debit or credit card, providing an additional payment option for customers alongside existing smart ticketing and cash payments.
The Stagecoach Bus app was introduced earlier this year and is available free of...
Devon’s fleet of gritters are out on all of the county's precautionary salting network today (Thursday 12 January).
More than 2,000 miles of the county’s roads will be treated multiple times by Devon County Council over the next 24 hours.
Persistent rain, combined with the forecast of plummeting temperatures and potential wintry showers and snow later on this afternoon, is making for challenging conditions for the gritting teams. Primary salting routes, on Devon’s busier roads, are being treated as a priority and secondary routes will be salted from around 2pm in...
Matt Kvesic says he is “excited” about what lies ahead after he this week agreed to join the Exeter Chiefs on a three-year deal.
The England international is Rob Baxter’s first capture ahead of next season and joins from Aviva Premiership rivals Gloucester.
A destructive force in English rugby’s top flight for a number of years, the 24-year-old’s arrival at Sandy Park will be seen as shrewd bit of business by Baxter, who has tracked the player for a number of years.
Having initially started his senior career at Worcester Warriors in 2009, Kvesic spent four years at...
Apprentices from Barratt Homes have put their new skills into practice by building a playground fence at Willowbank Primary School in Cullompton.
The team of three apprentices built a bespoke picket fence, gate and railings securing the playground for staff, parents and pupils.
The idea was the brainchild of Barratt Homes trainee assistant site manager, Kathryn Simpson, who was keen to find a way of putting the housebuilder’s pledge to support the communities in which it works into practice.
Kathryn said: “This really shows what apprentices can do. It’s a fantastic...
With the possibility of snow forecast in the coming days, snow warden volunteers across Devon are prepared and ready should they be called upon this winter.
A band of rain tomorrow morning could turn wintry by the afternoon, and freeze in the evening, with the potential for a few centimetres of snow tomorrow afternoon and overnight on Thursday evening.
Devon County Council is planning to send out its gritting teams on all of its precautionary salting routes from around lunchtime tomorrow, which could initially be in the rain to ensure there is some salt present prior to the...
