Rob Baxter has warned his high-flying Exeter Chiefs side to prepare for a backlash of sorts from Northampton Saints ahead of today's (FRI) New Year’s Day clash at Franklin’s Gardens (3pm).
The East Midlanders crashed to their fourth Aviva Premiership defeat of the season last Saturday, going down 25-23 to previously winless London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.
At the same time, the Chiefs were notching up their sixth top flight win in seven starts, seeing off visiting Sale Sharks at Sandy Park as they maintained their pursuit at the top of defending champions Saracens....
Rob Baxter insists his Exeter Chiefs cannot wait to get back into Aviva Premiership action following two weeks of battle in the European Champions Cup.
In what was a mixed fortnight for Devon’s finest against French rivals ASM Clermont Auvergne, this Saturday it’s Sale Sharks who provide the opposition at Sandy Park (3pm) in Exeter’s final game of 2015.
And as Baxter readied his troops for their latest league battle, the Chiefs head coach was in upbeat mood as he looked ahead to the Boxing Day match-up.
“We’re really looking forward to getting back into the...
Adam Hughes says he leaves Exeter Chiefs a better player after he today confirmed he has re-joined former club Newport-Gwent Dragons on a permanent deal.
Signed in the summer of 2014 by head coach Rob Baxter, the Welshman featured nine times for the Chiefs, scoring four tries in the process.
With game time somewhat limited for the 25-year-old at Sandy Park, Hughes returned to Rodney Parade earlier this season on an initial three-month loan deal.
Now, the Newport-born back has made the switch back to his hometown club a permanent one, inking a new deal that will take...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight at landing the signing of Australian international Greg Holmes for next season.
Baxter today confirmed he had finalised terms with the Queensland Reds tight-head on a two-year deal.
Holmes, who has won 24 international caps for the Wallabies, is Baxter’s first confirmed signing for the 2016/17 season.
Commenting on the signing, Baxter said: “The important thing to remember is the set-piece and the forward battle is not something that is going to be less important in top flight rugby, so we’re always...
Around the globe this week the headlines have all been about the latest episode of the Star Wars collection ‘The Force Awakens’.
Well, here in France, star-studded Clermont Auvergne showed they had themselves awoken from their European Champions Cup slumber, ruthlessly dispatching of visiting Exeter Chiefs at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Having had their noses blooded by Devon’s finest just the week previous, the Top 14 outfit underlined their European credentials with a simply mouth-watering display that yielded five tries.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says its likely England star Henry Slade will be sidelined for roughly four months after sustaining a broken leg and ankle damage in his side’s 41-27 win over Wasps on Saturday.
Centre Slade was stretchered off with just 15 minutes remaining at the Ricoh Arena following a tackle from home winger Sailosi Tagicakibau as he looked to clear out the Exeter playmaker.
Slade, 22, had a plate and wiring inserted during what Baxter described as ‘a pretty major operation’ on Sunday.
The loss of Slade is an untimely blow for both club and...
Rob Baxter admits there is real excitement in and around the Exeter Chiefs camp as they gear up for tomorrow’s crunch Aviva Premiership encounter with Wasps.
Devon’s finest will head to the Ricoh Arena looking not to maintain their lofty placing within the division’s top two, but at the same time inflict another telling blow on one of their potential rivals for a play-off place this term.
Like the Chiefs, Wasps are themselves in a rich vein of form and with an equally proud home record – they’ve only lost twice at their Coventry base since moving their a year ago – it has...
For those who don’t know, Sandy Park is one of the latest properties available on the new edition of Exeter Monopoly that was unveiled just a few weeks ago in the city.
Well, after this, maybe Rob Baxter and his Chiefs side have already used their ‘Get out of Jail’ card as they overcame fellow high flyers Harlequins in a hard-fought Aviva Premiership encounter at the Devon venue.
Fly-half Gareth Steenson led the way for the Devonians, scoring one of two tries in his own personal points haul of 21 points.
Rob Baxter has spent this week reminding his Exeter Chiefs players to make home advantage tell in their quest for honours this season.
With just two home defeats in 14 months, the term ‘fortress’ has been touted loud and proud by many observers, including those within the Sandy Park corridors.
The impressive run of form has not only helped to secure vital points within the Aviva Premiership and progression within various cup competitions for the Devon club, but it’s also been the foundation from which Baxter has been able to build for the future.
It’s not been quite the same whirlwind start to the season as it was 12 months ago for Thomas Waldrom, but the Exeter Chiefs forward isn’t complaining as long as the Devon club continue to produce the winning formula.
England international Waldrom enjoyed an amazing first year in Chiefs colours, scoring 16 tries in total following his move from Aviva Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers.
His tally ensured he not only finished top of the touchdown pile for Rob Baxter’s side, but he was also crowned the first forward since Neil Back in 1999 to be the Premiership’s top try-...
