As defending champions of the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, Rob Baxter is acutely aware his Exeter Chiefs side have a huge target on their backs this season.
It’s a challenge, however, that the Devonians are clear relishing with the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby this week exuding a real air of excitement ahead of tomorrow night’s opener away to Harlequins (7:45pm).
“We’re looking forward to Friday, but so we should be,” said Baxter. “People will say it’s going to be tough for us having a short break, but I actually think not having that lengthy period off...
Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their front-row options ahead of the new 2020/21 season with the signing of South African prop Maks Van Dyk.
With Harry Williams and Tomas Francis both likely to be involved in the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup and Six Nations Championship, Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, has moved swiftly to bring in the 28-year-old tighthead.
Van Dyk - who has previously played for the Sharks, Cheetahs and Griquas in South Africa, as well as Leinster, Toulouse and, more recently, a short stint at Harlequins – joins on an initial one-year deal, although...
Whilst it may be seen as a step into the unknown for some, Rob Baxter says the challenge of getting his Exeter Chiefs squad primed and ready for midweek fixtures is something that is largely ‘exciting’ for him and his players.
Just four days after claiming maximum reward from their 32-22 win at Sale Sharks, the Chiefs travel to local rivals Bristol Bears tomorrow night for their Round 15 Gallagher Premiership encounter at Ashton Gate (7:45pm).
In what is the second of three fixtures in just over a week for the table-topping Chiefs, Baxter - like his coaching counterparts...
Having marked their return to Gallagher Premiership action with a maximum haul against Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs are now bracing themselves for two testing away-day assignments, the first of which comes tomorrow night at Sale Sharks (6pm).
Rob Baxter’s side will travel to the AJ Bell Stadium for a fourth installment this season against the Sharks, who they also faced in the Heineken Champions Cup double-header back in December.
The seasonal head-to-head reads 2-1 in favour of the Chiefs, but this latest battle promises to be the best yet, particularly as the hosts...
The forward-thinking of Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, has today hit a new level with confirmation that he has signed 30 of his senior squad to new long-term deals at Sandy Park.
With Premiership Rugby clubs agreeing last month to cut the salary cap by £1.4m from the 2021/22 season, Baxter and the Chiefs management wasted little time in securing the future of their crown jewels, including the likes of Stuart Hogg, Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Slade and the Simmonds brothers, Joe and Sam.
It’s a huge statement of intent from the Devon club and...
Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their back three options with the signing of highly-rated back Josh Hodge from Gallagher Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons.
The 20-year-old is Baxter's fifth addition to his squad, joining the likes of Jonny Gray, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Aaron Hinkley and Corey Baldwin, in making the switch to Sandy Park.
Equally adept on the wing or at full-back, Chiefs' Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, has spoken of his delight at landing Hodge, who as well as being capped at both Under-18 and Under-20 level for England, also took up an apprentice role in Eddie...
Greg Holmes says Exeter will forever hold a special place in his heart after he this week bid a fond farewell to Devon and life with the Chiefs.
Holmes and wife Alana are heading home to Australia, four years after arriving in the Westcountry from former club, Queensland Reds.
During that time, the popular 37-year-old forward has been an integral part in helping the Chiefs to continue to establish themselves as a force, not just within the English game, but also on the European stage as well.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Holmes was...
Rob Baxter says his Exeter Chiefs squad will return to the ‘highest possible’ standards of care when they return to training at Sandy Park sometime next week.
Exeter’s Director of Rugby was speaking after the Professional Game Board, which incorporates representatives of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Premiership Rugby, Rugby Players Association (RPA) and Championship Clubs, today gave provisional authorisation for Premiership and Championship Rugby clubs to move to Stage 1: Elite Sport Return to Training Guidance.
The Chiefs - who lead the Gallagher Premiership after 13...
Rob Baxter insists players across Premiership Rugby, including his own at Exeter Chiefs, will be given the best medical provisions as they look to return to training next month.
Director of Rugby Baxter believes restarting training for a return to top-flight action during the current coronavirus outbreak can be done safely - and that implementing the guidelines laid out in the government’s white papers are not as hard as some people think.
Speaking on BBC Radio Devon, Baxter said: “There are challenges currently, but I think the big thing from me - and it’s something I’m...
Exeter Rugby Club chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE, insists there is a ‘real desire’ from within the club and from Premiership Rugby to ensure the 2019/20 season is completed.
Although the table-topping Chiefs have not played a competitive fixture since beating Bath 57-20 at Sandy Park back in early March, Rowe is confident that a return to competitive action is not all that far away.
Rowe’s optimism comes following the announcement earlier this week where the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Public Health England (PHE), the Department for Health...
