Bath Match Day Programme

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When the fixtures come out at the start of the season, there are certain games which you always look for and in my case, it’s our derby clashes with Bath.

Over the years we have enjoyed a healthy rivalry with our Westcountry foes who, if you remember, were the side that we took the longest to finally beat in the Premiership.

Games between the two of us always bring all the excitement and hype that you would expect of tackling one of your nearest and dearest, but today we have that added incentive of it being what I hope will be a pre-Christmas cracker.

Certainly, we come into the game buoyed by some impressive victories in Europe against both Castres (away) and, just last weekend, the Bulls here at Sandy Park.

To have collected a ‘perfect 10 from 10’ has put us in a great position heading into the New Year, but we are acutely aware the job is far from complete and that we will no doubt face a ferocious Bulls outfit when we travel to South Africa for the first time next month.

Alongside our two European challenges, we have also been involved in our two final Premiership Rugby Cup matches, which allowed us to utilise a

great number of our other first-team stars. Again, our victories over both Bath and Gloucester have ensured we have secured our place in the semifinals of the competition, when it resumes in February. As yet, we don’t know if that game will be home or away, but here’s hoping results fall favourably and that you will get the chance to see more of our youngsters again on home soil.

As this is our last home game of 2022, I thought I would just have a quick reflection on the past 12 months which, although have been challenging due to the current climate, have again brought a great deal of reward and satisfaction.

As a club and as a business we are in a strong position moving forward, but we can ill afford to take our mind off things. The hard work has to continue, as does your unwavering support. Exciting times are in front of us and I want you all to be part of it.

Finally, can I take this opportunity on behalf of all of us here at the club to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

TONY ROWE OBE

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXETER RUGBY CLUB

Good afternoon to you all and welcome back to Sandy Park for our Premiership Rugby encounter with Bath Rugby.

Over the years this tournament has been the breeding ground for many of our homegrown talent to get their first taste at senior level

ROB baxter

Twas the night before Christmas and here we are at Sandy Park, ready for for our festive period game against local rivals Bath and, hopefully, a lot is stirring!

I hope you have all completed your Christmas shopping, have been good boys and girls this year and are looking forward to Santa’s visit tonight and unwrapping some presents tomorrow!

But before we get there, we have an important Gallagher Premiership fixture today. These Christmas Eve games have in the past been fantastic occasions and I am hopeful we can see a repeat of both the occasion and the performance as we head into Christmas.

We are obviously pretty happy with our performances in the Heineken Champions Cup over the last two weeks, the away game in Castres was always going to be the opportunity to break open the competition for us, especially if we could force the win and the players had a focus and emotional alignment to make that happen in spades. We got nearly every element of the game right and although it only felt really comfortable later in the game, we actually had command of long periods of the game and this added up through the contest for us to collect the important four tries.

Last week was challenging in a few ways, especially as we couldn’t fly back from France until later on the Sunday, so had a short training week. The cold weather then closed in and we had to work around frozen pitches and covers being put on and off the pitch. We also had the additional distraction of a lot of media focus on our opponents, the Vodacom Bulls.

Despite this, we got ourselves into shape by the weekend and produced a more than solid performance. True, it wasn’t the strongest Bulls team they could have selected from, but they had still turned over Lyon the week before so shouldn’t be underestimated.

Again, most of our game held up on the day and we became dominant over the 80 minutes to secure what was another vital five points. With ten points in the bag, we have now given ourselves every chance of progressing to the latter stages of the competition.

Now, however, our challenge is to re-focus on the Premiership and we need to up our performance levels in this competition because collecting points over the next few weeks is going to be vital for us if we don’t want things to slip out of our hands.

As this is the last game before Christmas, can I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, whilst at the same time thank you for your continued support throughout the course of the year.

Finally, can I extend a warm welcome again to Johan van Graan, his fellow coaches, players, officials and supporters of Bath Rugby to today’s game.

Enjoy the Game!

foundation offer boost to local charity

Hundreds of people will enjoy a hearty lunch this Christmas, thanks to a collaboration between the Exeter Chiefs Foundation and a city food charity.

Thousands of pounds have been set aside by the foundation’s trustees to pay for the festive feasts. And it is estimated that, as a result of the partnership with Exeter Food Action, more than 1,000 meals will have been served on the big day

Exeter Chiefs Foundation trustees Tony Rowe OBE and Marc Astley visited EFA’s base on Marsh Barton to find out how the money would be spent.

Exeter Food Action rescues excess food from shops and suppliers, and redistributes it to organisations that support people in need in Devon. But the organisation’s coordinator, Elizabeth Butland,

explained there was a growing concern that leftover stock might be in short supply this year as shoppers, and supermarkets, tighten their belts.

Mr Rowe said: “As a charity our mission is to improve the lives of the people in our community and we know that this Christmas many families will face a stark choice between eating and heating.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that what should be a day of celebration will be a miserable experience for those most affected by the cost of living crisis. Although we normally fund tangible projects such as buildings and vehicles, we felt strongly that some of the money donated to us this year should be used to support a food charity.

“Exeter Food Action have risen to the occasion and been incredibly proactive in making the initiative work at relatively short notice.”

special ‘mnd day’ helps raise funds for three charities

Three leading charities are set to benefit from the special ‘MND Day’ organised by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation ahead of the recent Premiership Rugby Cup clash between the Chiefs and Gloucester at Sandy Park.

Over £5,000 was raised from collections, donation and a silence auction - which included signed Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester shirts, as well as a bottle of whisky - for the Exeter and East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and 4Ed campaign.

Exeter Rugby Club already has strong links to both the Exeter and East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association and Doddie Weir’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation - and they were more than happy to link-up with the 4Ed Campaign, which was set-up early this year after Gloucester lock Ed Slater was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease himself.

Former England international Ed is one of several high-profile sporting stars to have been diagnosed with MND in recent years, others include Rob Burrow, Stephen Darby and the late Doddie Weir.

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chiefs help to spread some christmas cheer at hospital

Ahead of what is going to be a busy festive period for the Exeter Chiefs, stars from the Gallagher Premiership club today took time out to pay a special visit to the Bramble Children’s Unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

Leading the way was long-serving prop Ben Moon, along with team-mates Dave Ewers, Harry Hocking, Billy Keast, Rory O’Loughlin and Scott Sio.

Loaded up with sacks full of presents and other goodies, the players took on the role of Father Christmas for the very special day, getting to meet with parents and youngsters who are potentially facing up to the prospect of remaining on the wards for Christmas and beyond.

Spending time not only delivering presents, but also sitting down and chatting with the young children and their families, the Chiefs - who face the Bulls in the Heineken Champions Cup this

Saturday - were delighted to help bring some early festive cheer to the Bramble Unit.

Moon said: “You have mixed emotions coming here because it’s nice to put smiles on people’s faces and try and cheer the kids up, but some of the wards are really tough. That said, we always enjoy coming here and spending some time with the children, parents and the staff who do a fantastic job every day of the year.

“For us as players and also as parents ourselves, it’s about giving something back to people who are suffering around Christmas time. We aim to cheer the kids up, give them a few presents and try and bring a smile to their day. It’s something that’s very important for all of us at the Chiefs.”

As well as presents bought personally by the players, youngsters on the Bramble Unit were also presented with Chiefs teddy bears, all of which had been purchased through the Exeter Chiefs Foundation, the club’s official charity.

chiefs secure premier 15s place

Exeter Chiefs Women are among eight clubs that have been selected via the tender process and offered a place in the Allianz Premier 15s competition from the 2023-24 season, subject to the signing of shareholder and other agreements.

The clubs selected at this stage, following a competitive tender process, are: Bristol Bears, Ealing Trailfinders, Exeter Chiefs, GloucesterHartpury, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Loughborough Lightning and Saracens.

The league has capacity for ten teams and while a number of clubs have not been selected to enter at this stage, there is potential for clubs to join the league at a later stage. The RFU and Women’s Premier 15 Ltd (WP15) will continue to work with these clubs on their potential to participate in the league.

Clubs that have not been offered a place in next

season’s Allianz Premier 15s can appeal and this process will aim to conclude by the end of February.

Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE, said: “As a club we are delighted we have been confirmed as one of the eight teams selected following the extensive tender process.

“People will see how over the past three years we have established a fantastic women’s team under the guidance of head coach Susie Appleby. Not only have we been able to bring through a wealth of homegrown talent, but the mix of experienced and international players has helped us to deliver a winning formula, both on and off the field.

“Looking to the future, I am confident we can build on our success and generate an environment that will benefit not only the club and our players, but also our fan-base, which is growing season on season.”

twickenham return for the chiefs

Exeter Chiefs are heading back to Twickenham in the New Year after it was confirmed both the men’s and women’s side will tackle their Harlequins counterparts in Big Game 14 on Saturday, March 4.

The Londoners confirmed the news last week after they were forced to cancel their proposed double-header against Bristol Bears on December 27 due to the on-going industrial action by the RMT.

Harlequins have been working closely with South Western Railway through the RFU, Premiership Rugby and all key stakeholders to understand the impact of the current RMT industrial action.

Despite December 27 not being a designated

day for industrial action, Harlequins were advised on crowd safety concerns that it would not be safe to deliver the much anticipated sold-out Twickenham stadium event.

Harlequins CEO, Laurie Dalrymple explained: “We are devastated to have to move Big Game 14 from its annual festive place in the calendar because of this strike action. We know how special this event is to our local community and this was due to be our biggest and bestever event. Ultimately, we must put the safety of fans and those working at the event first and it is clear that without the functioning rail network, we cannot safely deliver a large scale event at Twickenham.

The women’s clash will kick-off at 12pm with the men’s game following at 3pm.

The University of Exeter has bolstered its long-standing partnership with the Exeter Chiefs by entering into a new strategic and sponsorship agreement.

Yellow Card: Ewers

Bulls: W Simelane (J Mostert 69); S Novuka, S Gans, C Smith (C Baines 60-66), S Jacobs; M Steyn (capt), B van der Linde (K Johannes 71); D Smith (L Gqoboka 47), B Du Plessis (J van Zal 60), J van Rooyen (S Lombard 58); R Ludwig, J Swanepoel; N Carr (C Hanekom 74), WJ Steenkamp (P Maqondwana 58), M Uys.

Referee: M Raynal Attendance: 11,518

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SARACENS TIE DOWN FUTURES OF ENGLAND DUO GEORGE AND DALY

England duo Jamie George and Elliot Daly have signed new contracts with Premiership club Saracens. Hooker George, 32, has made 263 appearances since making his debut for the North London club in 2009, lifting five league titles and three European crowns in his 13-year spell.

Thirty-year-old utility back Daly has made 40 appearances for Sarries after joining from Wasps in 2019. The length of both players’ contracts has not been disclosed.

“The thing that excites me most going forward is that there is so much more to come and I am very passionate about being a part of that,” said George, who has played 72 times for England and has three British and Irish Lions caps.

Daly, meanwhile, has 56 England caps and has made five appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

RUSSELL CONFIRMS HIS SWITCH TO BATH FOLLOWING WORLD CUP

Bath Rugby have this week confirmed the signing of Finn Russell following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

After four stellar seasons in Paris, playing for Racing 92, the 30-year-old is to make the move to the Gallagher Premiership.

“Finn is a world-class player who will significantly add to our squad on and off the field,” said Head of Rugby Johan van Graan. “To be able to attract players of Finn’s quality to Bath is a credit to how far we have come as a club since July 11.”

With 65 Scotland caps to his name, Russell is relishing the prospect of joining the Westcountry club.

“To be able to join such a historic, well-supported club is really exciting. I know players at Bath who speak highly of the environment - and the direction the club is going in is something I want to be part of.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Racing 92 and I’ve learned a lot. Now is the right time for a new challenge, in a new league, with the aim of moving Bath back to the top.”

ENGLAND TURN TO BORTHWICK AS HE SIGNS NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL

England have appointed Leicester’s Steve Borthwick as new head coach of the men’s national team, nine months before the Rugby World Cup begins in France.

The 43-year-old is joined by defence coach Kevin Sinfield, who he has worked with at Leicester since 2021.

Borthwick, who has been favourite to take the role since Eddie Jones was sacked, joins on a five-year contract.

“I want the whole country to be proud of us and to enjoy watching us play,” said Borthwick. “I know pride will count for nothing if we don’t deliver. I was a boy who fell in love with rugby watching the England team play. I want to shape a team that inspires.”

The former England captain’s first match in charge will be the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4. The RFU have confirmed the rest of his coaching team will be announced in the coming weeks.

As a player, Borthwick won 57 England caps before retiring in 2014.

WIGGLESWORTH CALLS TIME ON HIS CAREER TO ASSUME NEW ROLE

Richard Wigglesworth has been named as Leicester Tigers’ interim head coach, retiring as a player to replace Steve Borthwick after his departure to join England. Wigglesworth hangs up his boots at the age of 39, having made an all-time record 322 Premiership appearances during his 20-year career.

The scrum-half was already working as a coach at Tigers when he helped them to the Premiership title in June.

“It’s a bittersweet day,” said Wigglesworth. “The decision to retire from playing was not easy. I have given absolutely everything to my playing career and loved every minute of being a professional rugby player.

“I would not have taken on the head coach role of Leicester Tigers if I did not believe there was a group of players and coaches who are committed to being successful and, with those at this club, that cannot be questioned.”

GLOUCESTER SUFFER FRESH BLOW WITH BALMAIN INJURED

Gloucester prop Fraser Balmain could miss much of the rest of the season after having knee surgery.

The 31-year-old was stretchered off in the 62nd minute of Gloucester’s Champions Cup win over Bordeaux.

“It’s a huge blow to lose Fraser for such a prolonged period. He’s been such a consistent performer for us and key player in the squad, “ said Gloucester chief operating officer Alex Brown. “There’s still hope that we may see Fraser at the latter stages of the season, however, it’s imperative that he takes the time required to fully recover.”

The home of domestic rugby

BATH RUGBY

In Bath’s third and final Premiership Rugby Cup outing of the season, the Blue, Black and White head south to take on Exeter Chiefs.

The young contingent of the squad have been maintaining their rugby, making appearances in the BUCS Super League and heading out on loan in the Championship. The likes of Archie Stanley and Sam Harris have become Team Bath regulars who are certainly making their mark in the university league.

From their appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Tom Carr-Smith and George Worboys have earned spots in numerous Gallagher Premiership match-day squads

Returning from a three-match ban after being cited during Bath’s match against Northampton Saints, Dave Attwood returns to the pitch to offer his experience and knowledge to the young team.

Looking ahead to the challenge this weekend, the second row reflects on how things are starting to gel for the Blue, Black and White.

“The team that’s playing every weekend in the Gallagher Premiership is starting to churn out some good results. Even with the games we’ve lost within one or two points.

“There is a high bar to get back into the team and the Cup is a good opportunity for all of us to hold our hand up. All we’ve been able to do is focus on trying to get our basics pretty spot on, look after the ball at the breakdown, try and play sensibly around the field and look after our set-piece.

“As the focus has really drawn in on that, those areas have started to come together. You start to see results go our way and hopefully over the coming weeks we can build off that momentum, those finer points, those

finer points, those structural pillars put in place and we can start building the wider game.”

Having left the club for a spell at West Country rivals Bristol Bears, of his return to Bath, Attwood said: “Part of the reason why I came to Bath was the youth of the squad and the opportunity that I would be able to help build some of these guys for the future.

“A collective performance shows everyone in the best light and I think there’s a great opportunity for me to lead by example but also to look after some of these guys when it gets a bit frantic and pull them in and hopefully get them playing the right sort of rugby.”

* Bath are finalising terms to sign Scotland and Lions fly-half Finn Russell in a transfer deal which would be a stunning coup for the Westcountry club.

The 30-year-old has been at Racing 92 in Paris since 2018, but it appears that he will be leaving the French capital for a move to the Rec after this season.

A deal is yet to be concluded but sources say talks are at an ‘advanced stage’.

DANGERMAN

OLLIE LAWRENCE

Following the financial woes at Worcester Warriors earlier this season, Bath Rugby wasted little time in making their move for highly-rated England international Ollie Lawrence.

Initially signed as short-term injury dispensation, it did not take Bath’s Head of Rugby Johann van Graan long to realise the potential of the exciting back - and he was quickly snapped up on a longterm deal at the Recreation Ground.

The centre started his career with the Worcester Academy aged just 14 and quickly rose through the ranks, debuting for the Midlanders in 2017 with a try in the Anglo-Welsh Cup clash against Sale Sharks.

He received his first England call-up shortly after starring for his country’s Under-18 and Under-20s in 2018, earning his first full cap in 2020 as Eddie Jones’ side won the Covid-delayed Six Nations Championship.

Lawrence’s first international try came in the summer of 2021 against the USA.

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Bath supporters have been given a wonderful Christmas present with the announcement of the signing of Scotland fly-half Finn Russell from Racing 92.

He will join the club after the World Cup next autumn, and I am sure his arrival will excite Premiership rugby fans, whatever their club allegiance.

I’m not sure a reported £950,000/£1 million annual salary sits very comfortably with me, coming only weeks after two Premiership clubs went into administration and others are struggling financially and having to make cutbacks.

But Bath have not broken any rules, Russell will be their marquee player, so good luck to them.

It should make next season’s Exeter-Bath matches even more fascinating, with Russell up against his Scotland team-mates Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray.

It was great to see the Chiefs back up their win in Castres by seeing off the South African Bulls last weekend in the Heineken Champions Cup in convincing fashion.

Luke Cowan-Dickie marked his return from England duty with a hat-trick of tries, and Dave Ewers produced yet another man of the match performance.

I was worried when French referee Mathieu Raynal reviewed Big Dave’s high tackle late in the game, but there was always enough mitigation in my opinion to make it a yellow rather than a red card, and the officials got it right.

The whole round of matches, however, left many feeling what on earth has happened to what once was a great competition?

We had South African sides wanting to take part but then naming much-weakened teams, as the Bulls did against Exeter.

There was the Friday night farce in Dublin when Gloucester sent over what amounted to a second string, and so early in the competition too, and got thrashed 57-0 by Leinster.

And then we had Ulster forced to play their home game with La Rochelle in an empty Aviva Stadium in Dublin because European rugby officials refused to let them make a later call on whether their Ravenhill pitch in Belfast would be fit for play due to the cold weather.

I am sure the cup sponsors were far from delighted by all the adverse publicity!

The whole competition needs a major review before next season, but I doubt European Rugby officials will be brave enough to do it. They will continue to back their poor decisions and drive the competition into the ground.

Today is the start of a very important period for the Chiefs in the Premiership, with two home games against Bath and Northampton – who sit either side of seventh-place Exeter in the table, with a trip to runaway leaders Saracens on New Year’s Eve sandwiched in between.

They are all tough matches, but Chiefs will be looking for two wins out of three to propel themselves up what is a very tight-looking division below Sarries.

The table is also much easier to read now, with all teams having played nine matches, bar Northampton, who have completed 10 games, and with the fixtures having been redone for the New Year, after the withdrawal of Wasps and Worcester, hopefully it will remain that way.

It just leaves me, my summariser John Lockyer and all at BBC Radio Devon to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

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YEANDLE Ready to tAKE CENTRE STAGE ON BIG DAY

Over the years Jack Yeandle has been front and centre for many of Exeter’s triumphs on the big stage. Today, though, he can happily enjoy the limelight on his own as he prepares to be the latest inductee into a rare club here at the Chiefs.

Joined by daughters Eva and Nellie, the long-standing Chiefs captain will lead his side into battle against Westcountry rivals Bath on this his 200th Premiership appearance for the club.

He will be just the third Chief to achieve the feat, joining current team-mates Ben Moon and Ian Whitten in passing the milestone.

Yeandle believes there will be plenty others down the line who will get to hit the 200 mark, but for now he should enjoy his moment in the spotlight, particularly given his achievements over the years.

“It’s flown by,” he said this week when asked to recall his time at the club so far. “I remember doing my interview after my debut and I must have said ‘awesome’ and ‘excellent’ at least 25 times.”

It does, however, mean a lot to the Exeter-born hooker, whose route to Sandy Park was not all that conventional. Instead, he went via UWIC (Cardiff Met University) and Doncaster Knights, enjoyed a decent loan spell at the Cornish Pirates, before forging himself very much in Rob Baxter’s selection plans here at the Chiefs.

“My pathway wasn’t quite like others who are here,” he said. “I did it a bit different, but I always had that aim that I wanted to play for the Chiefs. It’s my hometown club and like everyone playing rugby round here, that’s all you wanted as a young player.”

The fact Yeandle had to wait until November 2012 to realise that dream was not lost on him as he reflected on his now 10-year association with the club. “I consider myself very lucky to have been part of the Chiefs for so long,” said the 33-year-old. “I’ve been part of three

EXETER CAPTAIN SET TO HIT SPECIAL MILESTONE

JACK YEANDLE

teams over the years. The first was that ‘originals’ group from the Championship days. Then we’ve had that really successful group that’s won two leagues and Europe and now we’re building that next generation. Throughout it all, one thing that has changed has been the bond we’ve had as a group of players.

“Every club will say they have a special culture, but here it is different, we are mates on and off the field. Yes, people move on and the the squad is forever changing, but the Chiefs have always been about hard work. It’s always been that you earn your beers. We work hard, we play hard and that’s probably been shown this year where we had our toughest pre-season ever, yet the boys excelled and we’ve seen the results in our performances, especially early on.”

Today, the Chiefs face familiar foes in the form of Bath, the side that actually took the longest to beat in the Premiership.

“Everyone loves a Christmas Eve game, especially a derby,” added Yeandle. “It’s the start of a big month for us, so hopefully we can get the result and then be able to enjoy our Christmas. The last few weeks have certainly been better and we have kicked on in terms of our results, but we can’t relax now, we have to kick on further.

“Having the international boys back has certainly helped, but equally we did ask question of ourselves after some of the results. In the past you may have been happy to get a bonus point on the road. It was like a par score, but our standards are much higher now and we have to be better.”

WHO WE ARE

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation is a charity that exists with the sole aim of helping other charities.

All of the money we raise is donated to worthy causes in and around the city with a focus on supporting ‘tangible’ investments. These have included funding building and renovation works, the installation of play equipment, and assistance with buying a large number of vehicles, ranging from minibuses to a boat for the Topsham Sea Scout Group.

Founded by club Chairman Tony Rowe OBE, the team of trustees is drawn from the Chiefs board of directors and the business community.

As well as deciding on how the charity’s money is shared, the trustees organise a number of fundraising events each year including the prestigious Devon Sports Awards, as well as pre-season and end of season gala dinners.

All charities in the greater Exeter area are able to apply for funds, either from an annual designated pot of money, or one-off donations (see more below).

The amounts awarded by the trustees range from a few hundred pounds, to a record £50,000 which was matched by the Exeter Summer Property Ball Committee and presented to Hospiscare to pay for the vital refurbishment of a 12-bed ward at Searle House in Exeter.

To date the Foundation has raised £2m.

OUR MISSION

“We are a fundraising organisation committed to improving the prosperity of the communities we serve by making donations that make people’s lives better.”

HOW THE CHARITY WORKS

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation raises funds in two ways:

1) Designated funds: This is the money generated on Exeter Chiefs match days through bucket donations and car parking. Each season we ‘adopt’ 20 charities who help to collect spare change and notes. At the end of the fundraising year, the cash is shared with our designated charities at a celebratory dinner. The list of charities is reviewed by the trustees annually.

2) Undesignated funds: These are funds that are generated by friends and supporters of the charity or any non-match related events organised by the Foundation. This money goes into a separate pot that any charity or organisation can apply for, at any time.

In January 2019, the Foundation received a record £350,000 non-designated donation following the fine imposed on Saracens after being found guilty of breaching the league’s stringent salary cap regulations. The Chiefs board of directors voted unanimously to hand over the club’s share of money.

DESIGNATED CHARITIES

CHARITIES SET TO BENEFIT FROM EXETER CHIEFS FOUNDATION THIS SEASON

ARE CONFIRMED

Charities across Exeter and its surrounding area are set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of the Exeter Chiefs Foundation during the course of the 2022/23 season.

Established back in 2011 by the Exeter Chiefs and a selected group of local businessmen to help promote the local community and the vision of people who work there, the Exeter Chiefs Foundation has helped to not only transform the lives of many local people in need, but has helped to deliver significant investment to charities and organisations in need.

With over £2.5 million raised since its inception, the Exeter Foundation has helped to directly fund over 150 charities and organisations, including the designated charities selected each year and several other projects and schemes.

Last season close to £200,000 was raised and distributed by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation, helping to change lives and improve standards and facilities for so many different people.

During the 2022/23 season, a total of 32 charities – Age UK Exeter, Balloons, Brain Tumour Support, Children’s Hospice South West, Community Equality Disability Action, Dartmoor Search & Rescue, Devon Air

Ambulance, Devon Rape and Sexual Abuse Services, Dream-A-Way, Exeter & East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association, Exeter Athletic RFC, Exeter Community Initiatives, Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, Exeter Chiefs DSA, Exeter Food Action, Exeter Leukemia Fund, Exeter Lions Club, Force Cancer Charity, Freedomwheelers, Its In The Bag Cancer Support, Jay’s Aim, Living Options Devon, RAMM, RD&E NHS Trust, Royal Marines Charity, See The Future, South West MS Centre, Stanley Beau Foundation, Vranch House, Westcountry Hawks Wheelchair Rugby, Wooden Spoon Devon and Yoga for the Front Line – will all benefit from fundraising events and dinners across the year, together with collections at all Sandy Park match-days. Exeter Foundation chairman, Tony Rowe OBE, said: “Every year we are seeing the Foundation grow in stature. The work it has done for all the charities since we launched it all those years has been simply fantastic.

“We know from speaking to all the charities involved that the funds we raise really do make a difference in so many ways.”

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY W 20-24 350 DOIDGE WOODMAN LANGFORD McGILLIVRAY BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON

HARLEQUINS W 19-11 1,851 DOIDGE BUCHANAN LANGFORD McGILLIVRAY DERERA McGOVERNE BRADLEY

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY L 17-25 1,156 DOIDGE OUNSLEY PREECE LANGFORD BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON

BUCHANAN McGOVERNE

WORCESTER WARRIORS W 62-18 623 DOIDGE WOODMAN ZACKARY CANTORNA BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON

LOUGHBOROUGH W 5-54 350 DOIDGE MACDONALD ZACKARY CANTORNA BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON

HARLEQUINS W 27-0 1,045 DOIDGE MACDONALD ZACKARY CANTORNA SINCLAIR McGOVERNE ROBINSON

ROBERTS MOLONEY GRIMES FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE HANLON ORCHARD HARTLEY McMAHON LANGFORD PREECE ROBERTS MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE GRIMES HAYES McMAHON LANGFORD PREECE DOIDGE

ROBINSON MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON ALLEN NIELSON ROBERTS GRIMES ORCHARD V-D VELDEN BRADLEY DERERA GOWER MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE GRIMES V-D VELDEN ORCHARD ROBINSON GOWER WALKER

ROBINSON MIDDLEBROOKE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN V-D VELDEN MOLONEY MUZAMBE GRIMES ORCHARD FLEMING McDONALD CANTORNA WOODMAN

ROBINSON MUZAMBE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY FLEMING JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN MOLONEY TURANI JACOBY V-D VELDEN JOHNSON McDONALD WILKINS WOODMAN

ROBINSON TURANI NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN V-D VELDEN MOLONEY MUZAMBE JACOBY FLEMING JOHNSON BRADLEY WILKINS PREECE

ROBINSON ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI JACOBY FLEMING McMAHON BRADLEY WILKINS SINCLAIR

ROBINSON ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI JACOBY FLEMING McMAHON BRADLEY WILKINS CRAMER

KATE ZACKARY

SUSIE APPLEBY HEAD COACH STEVE SALVIN ASSISTANT COACH

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Exeter Van Centre

kick-off 2023 in style by signing up for our february half-term camps

Kick-off 2023 in style by signing your child up for one of our Train Like A Chief camps, which will be held across the region during the February half-term.

Developed and designed by our team of professional coaches, using the most up to date techniques, our rugby camps aim to offer young people the best possible experience and insight into the modern-day game.

Campers will not only learn the basic elements of the game, but at the same time improve their skill set in a range of activities and match-like scenarios. The key focus for the Chiefs’ Community team is on encouraging and inspiring young players to become the best they can be and to reach their full potential.

The camps are supported by our professional coaching staff, who will use their experiences to pass on top tips and training techniques. So who better to learn from? Regardless of age or ability, there is a course to suit everyone.

In February, we have two different one-day courses in Cornwall and two one-day courses in Devon. Priced at £36 per camp, children aged between 6-13 will get the opportunity to experience what rugby life is all about at a top Gallagher Premiership club. Also each participant will receive a Community Chiefs branded item which will be different at every half term period.

To book your place, visit the Train Like a Chief section on the club’s official website: www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/community/community-camps

WIN a weekend with Exeter Chiefs

Tickets for two to the Exeter Chiefs vs Gloucester game on 28 th January 2023 An overnight stay for two at Courtyard Exeter Sandy Park Hotel

Pick the player of the day & get an exclusive photo with them on the pitch after the match

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