Exeter Chiefs

Weekend's bloodbath leaves me looking to the future

In his latest blog, Chris Whitehead, the Exeter Chiefs hooker, reflects on how retirement always looms large for the professional sportsman.

For people who love their jobs, the prospect of retirement is a frightening one and the spectre of how to provide for yourself and your family in retirement is ever-present.

In professional sport, though, it is something that hangs over your head pretty much from the moment you start your career - this must be the only profession in life where you have to find work post-retirement. If I had a pound for every time I have heard...

Baxter frustrated by poor start against Premiership rivals

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Mon, 10/29/2012 - 12:07am

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter was left to bemoan a poor start from his side as Bath's hoodoo over their Devon rivals continued into a third season, writes Mark Stevens.

Baxter could only watch on as Bath - who have now won all five Aviva Premiership meetings between the two sides - stormed into a 12-0 lead thanks to a converted try from Ben Williams and another from Kyle Eastmond.

Although the Chiefs countered with a try of their own through prop Brett Sturgess, a penalty from home fly-half Stephen Donald ensured the home side led 15-5 at the turn.

Baxter...

Baxter hopes to buck the trend when Chiefs take on Bath

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Fri, 10/26/2012 - 2:10pm

Bath's Recreation Ground has yet to prove a happy hunting ground for the Exeter Chiefs, but head coach Rob Baxter is hopeful his side can at last buck that trend tomorrow and emerge victorious from the Roman city (2.30pm).

After two testing weeks in the Heineken Cup for the Devon club against holders Leinster and French giants Clermont Auvergne, it's back to the bread and butter of the Aviva Premiership for the fifth-placed Chiefs.

Bruised and battered - both physically and somewhat mentally - following their European exertions, Baxter has quickly put to bed those two...

Meeting will explain opportunities to invest in Chiefs

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Fri, 10/26/2012 - 8:12am

Members keen to invest in the future of Exeter Rugby Club will be given the chance to see a detailed presentation on how to purchase preference shares in the club at next week's Special General Meeting to be held at Sandy Park.

At the club's recent AGM held on September 26, club members overwhelmingly approved motions authorising the issue of preference shares in Exeter Rugby Group Ltd in order to finance the further development of Sandy Park Stadium.

Now, on Wednesday evening (7.30pm), members and small investors will be able to gain a full insight into how to purchase...

TJ named in England squad for game against Fiji

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Thu, 10/25/2012 - 11:29pm

Exeter Chiefs forward Tom Johnson has today been named in Stuart Lancaster's England squad for the for the first QBE International against Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on November 10.

The all-action back-row forward is one of 32 players who will meet at St George’s Park, Burton on Sunday, including James Haskell (London Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) – all promoted from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad as injury replacements for Tom Croft, Ben Foden, Alex Corbisiero and Rob Webber respectively.

England Head...

Welch draws positives despite cup defeat

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Wed, 10/24/2012 - 10:11pm

It wasn't quite the outcome he craved on his full debut for the Exeter Chiefs, but summer signing Damian Welch insists there were still plenty of positives to take from last Saturday's Heineken Cup loss to French giants Clermont Auvergne.

Recruited in the summer from Pool 5 rivals Scarlets, the imposing second row forward has had to bide his time to get his first taste of senior action with his new club. However, the 30-year-old's patience duly paid off when he was used as a second half replacement for James Hanks during Exeter's first-ever Heineken Cup fixture at Sandy Park....

Baxter stays positive despite Heinekin Cup defeat

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Mon, 10/22/2012 - 9:15am

Nobody said Exeter's first-ever involvement in the Heineken Cup would be easy, but Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter refused to be too downbeat despite seeing his side slip to a second successive defeat in the competition against French giants Clermont Auvergne at Sandy Park.

With Baxter's side leading 12-10 at the break thanks to four Gareth Steenson penalties, the Devon club - who had lost narrowly to reigning champions Leinster in their opening fixture in Dublin - were then hit by a ferocious second half attacking display from the visitors.

Clermont were simply sublime...

French visitors teach Exeter Chiefs a lesson on home turf

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Sat, 10/20/2012 - 10:29pm

Exeter Chiefs' first taste of Heineken Cup rugby in Devon turned sour as French visitors Clermont Auvergne served up a Saturday night treat at Sandy Park.

Vern Cotter's side were in inspired form as they ran in six tries - five of them in the second half - to maintain pole position of Pool 5 after the first two round.

The hosts led 12-10 at half-time through four Gareth Steenson (pictured) penalties, with Clermont replying via a Napolioni Nalaga try and Morgan Parra's boot.

However, two tries soon after the break from French internationals Wesley Fofana and...

Chiefs v Wasps start time changed to avoid England clash

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Thu, 10/18/2012 - 8:27pm

The Round 10 Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture between Exeter Chiefs and London Wasps on Saturday 1st December at Sandy Park Stadium, previously scheduled to kick-off at 3pm, will now kick off at 5.30pm. This change is at the request of Exeter Chiefs to avoid a clash with the Autumn International at Twickenham between England and New Zealand.

The official Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture list can be found throughout the season under the Match Centre at www.premiershiprugby.com

The Chiefs have also done similar for their forthcoming LV= Cup encounter at home to the Ospreys on...

Gibson full of praise for his battling Braves

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Tue, 10/16/2012 - 11:40pm

Exeter Braves coach Rob Gibson was full of praise for his side as they maintained their unbeaten home record in the Aviva Premiership A League with a 52-5 thumping of visiting London Irish.

In a one-sided encounter, the Braves were simply ruthless in seeing off the Exiles, running in tries from Alex Brown, Will Carrick-Smith, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mark Foster, Myles Dorrian, Jack Arnott and Tom Cowan-Dickie, whilst fly-half Henry Slade helped himself to a 14-point haul.

Irish's sole response on a miserable night for them was a late consolation try in the game from winger Tom...

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