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Exeter Rugby
Exeter Chiefs new logo 2022.png
Full name Exeter Rugby Club
Union Devon RFU
Founded 1871; 153 years ago (1871)
Location Exeter, Devon, England
Ground(s) Sandy Park (Capacity: 15,600)
Chairman Tony Rowe OBE
CEO Tony Rowe OBE
Director of Rugby Rob Baxter OBE
Captain(s) Jack Yeandle
Joe Simmonds MBE
Most appearances Ben Moon (197)
Top scorer Gareth Steenson (1,651)
Most tries Sam Simmonds (52)
League(s) Premiership Rugby
2021–22 7th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website

Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.

The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played its home matches at Sandy Park, a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of the city. They have been known by the name Chiefs since 1999. The club was promoted to the Premiership for the first time in 2010. Since promotion, the Chiefs have become one of the leading clubs in the Premiership, winning the championship title twice, in 2016–17 and 2019–20 respectively, and reaching a further four finals. In October 2020, the Chiefs won the Champions Cup, the top prize in European club rugby union, for the first time, defeating French club Racing 92 in the final of a tournament that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exeter are the only club to win the top four tiers of English rugby, winning the Premiership in 2017 and 2020, RFU Championship in 2010, National League 1 in 1997 and National League 2 South in 1996. They have won the Anglo-Welsh Cup twice, most recently in 2018, and the European Rugby Champions Cup once, in 2020.

The current director of rugby is Rob Baxter, who was appointed in March 2009.

History

Early years

Exeter Rugby Club was founded in 1871. The club played its first match in 1873 against St. Luke's College. In 1890, they won the Devon Cup. In 1905, Exeter Rugby Club hosted the first match played by the New Zealand national rugby union team on English soil and in the Northern Hemisphere at the County Ground between New Zealand and the Devon County XV. It was from that game that New Zealand became known as the "All Blacks".

When league rugby started, Exeter were initially placed in the Devon leagues.

Early league and professional era

In 1993 and 1995, Exeter reached the quarter finals of the Pilkington Cup before being knocked out by top division opponents Leicester Tigers and London Wasps respectively.

In 1997, Exeter were promoted into the Premiership Two for the first time from National League 1. They regularly finished in the top half of the table. In 2005, Exeter finished second in the league, missing out on promotion by four points behind Bristol Rugby. The next season, they moved from the County Ground to Sandy Park due to a need for modern facilities that included corporate hospitality. In 2008 they again finished in second place and again missed out on promotion by finishing behind Northampton Saints. The same situation happened the next season when Exeter finished behind Leeds Carnegie.

Premiership

In 2009, National Division One was reorganised into the RFU Championship with playoffs. During the regular league season, Exeter finished second behind Bristol. In the playoffs, they defeated Bedford Blues and Nottingham, before facing Bristol in the two legged final. Exeter won 9–6 in the first leg at Sandy Park and then won 29–10 at Bristol's Memorial Stadium in the second leg to win promotion to the Premiership for the first time.

In their first season in the Premiership, they finished eighth despite a two-point deduction and a £5,000 fine for fielding too many overseas players during their match against Leeds Carnegie at Headingley Stadium. They also made their debut in the European Challenge Cup, making their way to the quarter finals where they lost to Stade Français. In the next season, they finished fifth in the Premiership which permitted them to play in the Heineken Cup for the first time. In their first season in the Heineken Cup, they were drawn against French Clermont Auvergne, Irish Leinster Rugby and Welsh Scarlets in the group stage. They finished the group third with nine points ahead of Scarlets. In 2014, Exeter Chiefs won their first major rugby trophy after they defeated Northampton Saints in the Anglo-Welsh Cup 15–8 at Sandy Park.

Recent seasons

In the 2015–16 season the Chiefs finished in second place in Premiership Rugby entitling them to a home semi final in the Aviva Premiership which was played against Wasps. They won the match 34-23 thanks to two penalty tries, a try from Ian Whitten and a try from Dave Ewers as well as two penalties and four conversions from Gareth Steenson. This meant the Chiefs qualified to their first Aviva Premiership final on 28 May. They lost 28–20 to champions Saracens despite tries from England international Jack Nowell and club captain Jack Yeandle as well as 2 penalties and 2 conversions from Gareth Steenson.

The Chiefs also reached the quarter-final of the European Champions Cup in 2015–16. They were drawn away to Wasps in a tight game which they eventually lost 25–24 at the Ricoh Arena after Wasps' Jimmy Gopperth kicked a last-minute conversion.

In 2016–17, the Chiefs won the Premiership for the first time in their history by beating Wasps in the final 23–20. The game finished 20–20 at full time with captain Gareth Steenson slotting a late penalty to take it to extra time. In extra time, Steenson added another penalty to secure the victory.

The Chiefs finished the 2017–18 season eight points clear at the top of the Premiership Rugby table, but ultimately lost to 27–10 to Saracens in the final on 26 May 2018.

The Chiefs saw their most success to date during the 2019–20 season, winning an historic double of the European Rugby Champions Cup, in their first appearance in the final, and the Premiership.

New logo (2022–)

In light of several controversies regarding their crest, the club unveiled a new logo ahead of the 2022–23 season. The face of an ancient Iron Age British Dumnonii chief, is modelled on winger Jack Nowell.

Stadium

Exeter play their home games at Sandy Park, which is located on the outskirts of the city. The club moved from their previous home, the County Ground, in 2006 having played there regularly since 1905. In 2002, Exeter Chiefs started looking for a new stadium because they felt the County Ground provided insufficient opportunities for growth. Despite concerns and opposition from traditionalists within the club, the motion to move was passed by 99% of the attendees at Exeter's annual general meeting. Sandy Park can accommodate 12,800 spectators, however, there are plans to increase this capacity to 20,600 with phase one having begun in early 2014. These plans came about because of a requirement for later stages of European matches to be played at grounds with a capacity of at least 20,000. Following recent East stand changes during 21/22, capacity now at 15,600

Current kit

The kit is supplied by Samurai Rugby Gear. On the front of the shirt, Troy appear on the centre and the top left and Watson is on the top right. M.J Baker Foods is on the right sleeve. On the back of the shirt, Centrax is on the top while Sandy Park is on top of the squad number and Bradfords Building Supplies at the bottom. On the shorts, SW Comms (which also appear on the centre and the top left on the front of the shirt) is on the bottom left of the front shorts while on the back shorts, Frobishers Juices is at the top while Otter Brewery is on the bottom left.

Branding issue

Exeter Chiefs logo
The logo until 2022

In 1999, Exeter Rugby Club turned semi-professional and changed their name to Exeter Chiefs, after previously being referred to as the Chiefs in the 1930s. In 2016, the club's fans were called upon to change their behaviour over concerns that it could be considered an offensive appropriation of Native American culture. News outlets such as the BBC reported that the club had been urged to change its name and to stop playing "Indian."

In July 2020, a group set up by Exeter Chiefs supporters called for the club's "racist use of Native American imagery and branding" to be dropped, comparing the use of the headdresses and chanting the tomahawk chop to blackface. A petition gained more than 550 signatures in a week, with Exeter's Labour MP, Ben Bradshaw, also publicly backing the move. By Wednesday 8 July the petition had grown to 2,000 signatures and the debate about whether a re-brand was needed gained widespread attention. By 29 July the petition had gained 3,700 signatures and the issue was considered by the Exeter Board of Directors, they decided their branding was "highly respectful" but nonetheless retired their mascot Big Chief which "could be regarded as disrespectful". This decision was called "tone deaf" by the petitioners and considered controversial in the wider press.

In October 2021, fellow Premiership club Wasps called on the RFU and Premiership Rugby to rule on the acceptability of Exeter fans wearing Native American-style headdresses and discouraged the visiting Exeter fans from wearing them, though they stopped short of a ban. In November 2021 the National Congress of American Indians published an open letter calling for Exeter to drop their logo, the use of headdresses and venue names such as the 'Wigwam Bar', and that the continued use of such things perpetuated "dehumanising stereotypes". In response to this, the club stated that this issue would be addressed in the November AGM, and a decision made by the board of directors in the following weeks. As of 7 December 2021, the Board had still not come to a decision.

On 27 January 2022 it was announced that the club would be dropping the Native American branding in July 2022. The club now use imagery depicting the Iron Age tribe, the Dumnonii.

Season summaries

Premiership Domestic Cup European Cup
Season Competition Final Position Points Play-Offs Competition Performance Competition Performance
1987–88 Courage League Division 3 9th 8 N/A John Player Cup N/A No competition N/A
1988–89 Courage League Division 3 9th 8 N/A Pilkington Cup 3rd round No competition N/A
1989–90 Courage League Division 3 6th 11 N/A Pilkington Cup 4th round No competition N/A
1990–91 Courage League Division 3 4th 16 N/A Pilkington Cup 3rd round No competition N/A
1991–92 Courage League Division 3 4th 18 N/A Pilkington Cup 2nd round No competition N/A
1992–93 Courage League Division 3 3rd 17 N/A Pilkington Cup Quarter-final No competition N/A
1993–94 Courage League Division 3 6th 19 N/A Pilkington Cup 2nd round No competition N/A
1994–95 Courage League Division 3 10th (R) 7 N/A Pilkington Cup Quarter-final No competition N/A
1995–96 Courage League Division 4 1st (P) 28 N/A Pilkington Cup 4th round No English teams N/A
1996–97 Courage League Division 3 1st (P) 50 N/A Pilkington Cup 3rd round Not qualified N/A
1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 11th 12 N/A Tetley's Bitter Cup 4th round Not qualified N/A
C&G Cup 4th in pool
1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 5th 29 N/A Tetley's Bitter Cup 5th round No English teams N/A
C&G Cup 2nd round
1999–00 Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 4th 38 N/A Tetley's Bitter Cup 4th round Not qualified N/A
2000–01 National Division 1 3rd 71 N/A Tetley's Bitter Cup 4th round Not qualified N/A
2001–02 National Division 1 3rd 92 N/A Powergen Cup 6th round Not qualified N/A
Powergen Shield Runners-up
2002–03 National Division 1 3rd 104 N/A Powergen Cup 6th round Not qualified N/A
Powergen Shield Runners-up
2003–04 National Division 1 6th 74 N/A Powergen Cup 4th round Not qualified N/A
2004–05 National Division 1 2nd 101 N/A Powergen Cup 5th round Not qualified N/A
2005–06 National Division 1 6th 71 N/A EDF Energy Trophy Semi-final Not qualified N/A
2006–07 National Division 1 4th 101 N/A EDF Energy Trophy Runners-up Not qualified N/A
2007–08 National Division 1 2nd 116 N/A EDF Energy Trophy Runners-up Not qualified N/A
2008–09 National Division 1 2nd 119 N/A EDF Energy Trophy Semi-final Not qualified N/A
2009–10 RFU Championship 2nd (P) 88 Champions British and Irish Cup 4th in pool Not qualified N/A
2010–11 Aviva Premiership 8th 43 - LV= Cup 4th in pool Challenge Cup 2nd in pool
2011–12 Aviva Premiership 5th 59 - LV= Cup 2nd in pool Challenge Cup Quarter-final
2012–13 Aviva Premiership 6th 59 - LV= Cup 2nd in pool Heineken Cup 3rd in pool
2013–14 Aviva Premiership 8th 45 - LV= Cup Champions Heineken Cup 3rd in pool
2014–15 Aviva Premiership 5th 68 - LV= Cup Runners-up Challenge Cup Semi-final
2015–16 Aviva Premiership 2nd 74 Runners-up No competition N/A Champions Cup Quarter-final
2016–17 Aviva Premiership 2nd 84 Champions Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners-up Champions Cup 3rd in pool
2017–18 Aviva Premiership 1st 85 Runners-up Anglo-Welsh Cup Champions Champions Cup 2nd in pool
2018–19 Gallagher Premiership 1st 86 Runners-up Premiership Cup 2nd in pool Champions Cup 2nd in pool
2019–20 Gallagher Premiership 1st 74 Champions Premiership Cup Semi-final Champions Cup Champions
2020–21 Gallagher Premiership 2nd 82 Runners-up Premiership Cup no competition Champions Cup Quarter-finals
2021-22 Gallagher Premiership 7th 69 Premiership Cup 3rd in pool Champions Cup Round of 16

Gold background denotes champions
Silver background denotes runners-up
Pink background denotes relegated

Club honours

Exeter Chiefs

  • European Rugby Champions Cup
    • Champions: (1) 2019–20
  • Premiership Rugby
    • Champions: (2) 2016–17, 2019–20
    • Runners–Up: (4) 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020-21
  • RFU Championship
    • Champions: (1) 2009–10
    • Runners–Up: (3) 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09
  • National League 1
    • Champions: (1) 1996–97
  • National League 2 South
    • Champions: (1) 1995–96
  • Anglo–Welsh Cup
    • Champions: (2) 2013–14, 2017–18
    • Runners–Up: (2) 2014–15, 2016–17
  • EDF Energy Trophy
    • Runners–Up: (4) 2001–02, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
  • Devon RFU Senior Cup (tier 5)
    • Champions: (16) 1889–90, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
    • Runners–Up: (5) 1888-89, 1904-05, 1976-77,1980–81, 1985–86
  • Devon RFU Junior Cup
    • Champions: (1) 1905–06 (reserve side)
    • Runners–Up: (4) 1903–04 (reserve side)

Exeter Braves

  • Premiership Rugby Shield
    • Champions: (2) 2011–12, 2015–16

Current squad

The Exeter Chiefs squad for the 2022–23 season is:

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Ollie Burrows Hooker Wales Wales
Luke Cowan-Dickie Hooker England England
Dan Frost Hooker England England
Iestyn Harris Hooker Wales Wales
Harry Hocking Hooker England England
Jack Innard Hooker England England
Max Norey Hooker England England
Jack Yeandle (cc) Hooker England England
Alec Hepburn Prop England England
Josh Iosefa-Scott Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Matt Johnson Prop England England
Billy Keast Prop England England
James Kenny Prop England England
Ben Moon Prop England England
Patrick Schickerling [fr] Prop Namibia Namibia
Scott Sio Prop Australia Australia
Danny Southworth Prop England England
Marcus Street Prop England England
Harry Williams Prop England England
Jack Dunne Lock Ireland Ireland
Jonny Gray Lock Scotland Scotland
Dafydd Jenkins Lock Wales Wales
Jannes Kirsten Lock South Africa South Africa
Lewis Pearson Lock England England
Cory Teague Lock England England
Christ Tshiunza Lock Wales Wales
Ruben van Heerden Lock South Africa South Africa
Richard Capstick Back row England England
Aidon Davis Back row South Africa South Africa
Dave Ewers Back row Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
Santiago Grondona Back row Argentina Argentina
Ben Grubb Back row England England
Sam Simmonds Back row England England
Rus Tuima Back row England England
Jacques Vermeulen Back row South Africa South Africa
Player Position Union
Tom Cairns Scrum-half England England
Jack Maunder Scrum-half England England
Sam Maunder Scrum-half England England
Stu Townsend Scrum-half England England
Iwan Jenkins Fly-half Wales Wales
Joe Simmonds (cc) Fly-half England England
Harvey Skinner Fly-half England England
Ollie Devoto Centre England England
Kian Gentry Centre England England
Tom Hendrickson Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Archie Hill Centre England England
Charlie McCaig Centre England England
Seán O'Brien Centre Ireland Ireland
Rory O'Loughlin Centre Ireland Ireland
Henry Slade Centre England England
Ian Whitten Centre Ireland Ireland
Tom Wyatt Centre England England
Facundo Cordero Wing Argentina Argentina
Shea Cornish Wing England England
Dan John Wing Wales Wales
Solomone Kata Wing Tonga Tonga
Frankie Nowell Wing England England
Jack Nowell Wing England England
Arthur Relton Wing England England
Olly Woodburn Wing England England
Ben Hammersley Fullback England England
Josh Hodge Fullback England England
Stuart Hogg Fullback Scotland Scotland

Club staff

First Team Coaching

Role Name
Director of Rugby England Rob Baxter
Team manager New Zealand Tony Walker
Head coach England Ali Hepher
Forwards coach England Rob Hunter
Defence coach Australia Julian Salvi
Skills coach England Ricky Pellow

Academy

Role Name
Academy manager England Rob Gibson
Senior academy coach England Haydn Thomas

Notable former players

Lions tourists

The following players have toured with the Lions while playing for Exeter:

Rugby World Cup

The following are players which have represented their countries at the Rugby World Cup, whilst playing for Exeter:

Tournament Players selected England players Other national team players
2003 3 - Richard Liddington United States, Siaosi Vaili, Opeta Palepoi Samoa
2011 3 - Gonzalo Camacho Argentina, Junior Poluleuligaga Samoa, Craig Mitchell Wales
2015 7 Geoff Parling, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade Tomas Francis Wales, Chrysander Botha Namibia, Elvis Taione Tonga, Michele Campagnaro Italy
2019 6 Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade Stuart Hogg Scotland, Nic White Australia, Tomas Francis Wales

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Exeter Chiefs para niños

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