Premiership Rugby

Chiefs side to face Saracens

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Thu, 02/04/2016 - 12:44pm

Rob Hunter insists Exeter Chiefs are fully focused on the task in hand as they prepare to welcome Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens to Sandy Park today (Sunday at 1pm).

With just two points separating last season’s champions and the Chiefs at the summit of the table, the stakes are certainly high for both clubs as they reach the halfway point of the domestic season.

Buoyed by their bonus point victory at Worcester Warriors last time out, the Devon club will not only be looking to build on that success, but at the same time inflict a blow of their own on the Londoners, who...

Cowan-Dickie delighted to be back in Chiefs mix

Luke Cowan-Dickie admitted he was delighted to mark his return to competitive action with victory over Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership.

Sidelined since November with a broken thumb sustained in the European Champions Cup clash with the Ospreys, the young Cornishman was thrown straight back into the deep end at Sixways.

Initially pencilled in to start the game on the bench, illness to club captain and fellow hooker Jack Yeandle meant Cowan-Dickie was thrust right into the action on his return.

"It was a good game to get back involved with," he said. "I...

Aussie addition pleases Baxter

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Mon, 02/01/2016 - 12:06pm

Rob Baxter admits he sees a lot of similarities in new signing Dave Dennis to that of former Exeter Chiefs skipper Dean Mumm.

It was back in 2012 that Baxter brought Australian international Mumm to Sandy Park from Super Rugby outfit NSW Waratahs.

Three years later and Mumm departed Sandy Park as somewhat of a club legend, having made quite an impression during his time in Devon with the Chiefs.

Now back in Sydney, Exeter’s former talisman - who helped lift the LV= Cup back in 2014 - has played his part in helping to persuade 30-year-old Dennis to follow a similar...

Chiefs side to face Ospreys

Advancing into the last eight of Europe may seem a tall order for the Exeter Chiefs, but head coach Rob Baxter is refusing to give up hope and wants his side to finish their Pool Two programme on a high against the Ospreys today (Sunday) at Sandy Park (3:15pm).

Last Saturday’s 34-27 reverse away to Bordeaux-Begles means the Chiefs need to accrue maximum reward against the Welsh region this weekend, whilst hope results elsewhere in France between Clermont-Auvergne and Bordeaux-Begles fall in the right direction for them.

Whatever the outcome, Baxter’s side will once again...

Baxter poised to bolster Chiefs squad

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Fri, 01/22/2016 - 10:47am

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has admitted he is hoping to bolster his playing squad over the coming weeks as they brace themselves for a relentless run of fixtures in the Aviva Premiership.

With the Devon club somewhat hamstrung with a series of long-term injuries to a number of their key players, Baxter’s cause is set to be further hampered with the potential loss of others to call-ups in the upcoming Six Nations Championship.

Baxter has said the situation is far from ideal and it appears he’s now set to act, confirming in this week’s media briefing that he is...

Chiefs continue unbeaten home run

Exeter Chiefs 19 Gloucester 10

Thomas Waldrom finished top of the try pile for 2015 and the Exeter No.8 is hoping to replicate the feat this time round as his double helped the Chiefs to victory over Gloucester.

The free-scoring forward, who scored 16 touchdowns last season, took his tally to eight for this term with a first half brace that enabled Rob Baxter’s side to keep up their pursuit of Saracens at the top of the Aviva Premiership table.

Winger Olly Woodburn added a third score, while fly-half Gareth Steenson wrapped up the job with two conversions of his own...

Chiefs dealt another injury blow

Exeter Chiefs have been dealt another untimely injury blow with the news that lock Damian Welch is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Head coach Rob Baxter has confirmed the 33-year-old lock is to be ruled out for several months after picking up a chest injury in the recent European Champions Cup game away to ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Welch, who is undergoing surgery today on the pectoral muscle injury, has been a key member of Baxter’s side since arriving from the Scarlets back in the summer of 2012.

Read more at: http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-suffer-...

Hughes returns to former club

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...

Rimmer ready for French reaction

When you knock over one of the king-pins of European Rugby, it’s somewhat likely that when your paths cross again, a response of sorts can be expected.

Well, just days out from their latest Champions Cup assignment, Exeter Chiefs prop Carl Rimmer is well aware that hosts ASM Clermont Auvergne are busy plotting their revenge.

Humbled 31-14 at Sandy Park last weekend, the French outfit will on Sunday welcome Devon’s finest to the Stade Marcel Michelin (4:15pm) in a game they know they must win if they are to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

A week ago all...

Nowell prepares for French backlash

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Wed, 12/16/2015 - 11:57am

Exeter Chiefs star Jack Nowell says he and his team-mates are expecting much tougher resistance from French rivals ASM Clermont-Auvergne when the two lock horns again this Sunday in the European Champions Cup.

Fresh from seeing off last season's beaten finalists 31-14 at Sandy Park last weekend, the high flying Devonians go head-to-head with the same opponents this weekend at the imposing Stade Marcel Michelin.

Cornishman Nowell knows from past experience that French teams on their own patch are a much different proposition and is expecting a backlash of sorts from the...

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