Sale Sharks Match Day Programme

Chief Executive & Chairman: Tony Rowe OBE, Hon LLD

Deputy Chief Executive: Keiron Northcott

Directors: Rob Baxter OBE, Steve Byrne, Mark Champion, Brian Lodge, Chris Over

Managing Director: Natasha Pavis

Stadium Operations Director: Mark Isaacs

Sales and Marketing Director: Lisa Duncan

Finance Director: Nicky Teague

Administration Director: Toni Percival

President: Bob Staddon

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter OBE, Hon LLD

Head Coach: Ali Hepher

Coaches: Rob Hunter, Ricky Pellow, Omar Mouniemne, Haydn Thomas, Gareth Steenson

Academy Manager: Rob Gibson

Team Manager: Tony Walker

Head of Strength & Conditioning: Mark Twiggs

Director of Sports Medicine: Adrian Harris

Head of Sports Medicine: Jamie Fulton

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Design & Production: Jonny Carus

Programme Editor: Mark Stevens

Photography: JMP and Getty Images

welcome

Good afternoon to you all and welcome to Sandy Park for today’s Premiership Rugby Cup encounter with Sale Sharks

.

Having had a week to recharge the batteries after what was a testing last block of fixtures in both the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, it’s a return to competitive action with another competition for our guys this afternoon.

Over the years, we have been strong supporters of the Premiership Rugby Cup. Not only did it provide us with our first piece of silverware as a top-flight club back in 2014, but it’s also served to act as the foundation stone for a number of our young players to go on and forge a successful career at the highest level of the game.

With the A League no longer in operation, I know how much our coaches value the competition as a chance to see our next generation of players in senior action. Sure, we have guys who are out on loans at clubs in the Championship and National Leagues, but the chance to showcase their developing talents in a Chiefs shirt, I know, remains a big objective for a lot of our youngsters.

Equally, it’s also a great opportunity for a number of our senior coaches to further enhance their own careers. They too need to have games and time on the training field to promote themselves, so it’s vital we allow them to shine in this environment.

As a collective, both our players and coaches have worked tirelessly so far to get to this position and secure the advantage of playing here at Sandy Park in the semi-final. At any time, having the comforts of playing at home cannot be underestimated, so it’s important that all of us make the most of this opportunity as we look to advance to that final hurdle.

With fixtures, both for the men and women, coming thick and fast, we really are as a club starting to ready ourselves for what is the business end of the season.

Right now, we are well set for the challenges that await. However, as both Rob and Susie know all too well, a slip in standards can see seasonal dreams fade fast, so it’s imperative we stick to our guns and keep producing performances as we have done so well this season.

Finally, can I wish all of our international players on duty in the Six Nations this weekend the very best.

TONY ROWE CBE

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXETER RUGBY CLUB

“

”

With fixtures coming thick and fast, we really are as a club starting to ready ourselves for what is the business end of the season

ROB baxter

Good afternoon and welcome to Sandy Park for our first knock-out game of the season with the visit of Sale Sharks in today’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final.

It is funny that in a very busy season so far, we had a week off last week and it feels like a long time since we played!

Thank goodness we qualified for this game as the season does become a little fractured now, especially if you are out of the various cup competitions. However, this competition really opened up for us with our round one win away at Bristol, just because a bonus point win away from home really gets you on the front foot.

We were then due to travel to Worcester but, as you all know, their off field issues had come to a head by this stage and the game was cancelled and we were awarded a 28-0, five-point win.

Our third round game in late November at home to Bath was a pretty tight affair, but our young half-backs of Tom Cairns and Iwan Jenkins played really well and guided a hardworking team to a deserved victory 25-22. A late try by Bath did create a few nervous moments, but we came through to claim a very important victory.

On to our final pool game, a home encounter against Gloucester, which saw us face probably the most experienced team we had played to this date. To our team’s credit, this really raised our game and we came firing out of the blocks. For 60 minutes, we put in a tremendous performance with the only downside to the game being the last quarter when we leaked some soft tries that allowed Gloucester to claim a bonus point. Even so, a 50-33 victory against a local rival is always something to celebrate and the post-match changing room was certainly a happy one!

The make-up of the competition is a little complicated and with games being cancelled for various reasons, we knew we had qualified for the semi-finals, but wouldn’t know where we were playing until last Friday when Bristol beat Sale.

This confirmed that we would be at home against Sale this afternoon and now we can look forward to a semi-final in front of our Sandy Park faithful.

These games can be amazing experiences and I have reminded the players this week that this was the first piece of Premiership silverware that we won - and that it was a springboard for further success, I have an expectation that this could happen again!

Finally, can I take this opportunity to welcome my opposite number, Alex Sanderson, together with his fellow coaches, players, officials and supporters of Sale Sharks to today’s game.

All the Best

Rob

JENKINS SEES SIX NATIONS DEBUT END IN DISAPPOINTMENT AS IRELAND PREVAIL

Dafydd Jenkins’ first-ever Guinness Six Nations ended in disappointment as Ireland underlined their world’s number one side tag by humbling Wales 34-10 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Ireland’s storming start saw tries from Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe - and 12 points from Johnny Sextonestablish a 27-3 half-time lead.

Wales improved in the second half and responded with a Liam Williams try. But Ireland completed the scoring with a bonus-point try for Josh van der Flier.

Exeter Chiefs lock Jenkins was one of a number of second half replacements used by returning Welsh coach Warren Gatland, who expressed his disappointment at his side’s first half showing.

“At the end of the game I said in my head that I actually wasn’t that disappointed with our performance,” said Gatland. “That is because the disappointing things we can fix.”

Jenkins came on for former skipper Alun Wyn Jones, who will miss next today’s trip to face Scotland at Murrayfield.

scottish joy as they lift calcutta cup

Exeter Chiefs duo Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray enjoyed Twickenham triumph as Duhan van der Merwe’s late try gave Scotland back-to-back wins at Twickenham for the first time.

The winger’s late score turned Calcutta Cup history on its head with a stunning 29-23 victory against a spirited England in their Guinness Six Nations opener.

After Huw Jones and Max Malins traded scores, Van der Merwe scored an individual try that will go down in Six Nations history to take Scotland ahead again.

England stayed patient and were rewarded as Malins finished off a well-worked team try before Owen Farrell’s penalty put them one point up at half-time.

Ben White kept Scotland within one

after Ellis Genge’s try, before Farrell and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell traded penalties to leave the score at 23-22 with 10 minutes left.

A sensational attack followed, allowing Van der Merwe to score another and make Scottish wins at Twickenham almost as regular as Glastonbury after claiming the first in 38 years in 2021.

Head coach Gregor Townsend believes Scotland can deliver even more after their stunning win.

“To see the way the players came back, in a venue where we struggled for a lot of occasions, shows what a team we have. We weren’t at our best today. To win from behind, when you’ve only got five minutes, to score such a good try makes it all the more special.”

PROUDLY SERVING THE TRADES & DIY SINCE 1770.

hodge ‘over the moon’ after securing new deal at chiefs

Josh Hodge says he’s ‘over the moon’ to have agreed a new long-term deal with the Exeter Chiefs.

The gifted full-back has pledged his future to the Devon club and believes an exciting period lies ahead for him and everyone at Sandy Park.

Signed in the summer of 2020 from Gallagher Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons, the 22-year-old has to date made 37 firstteam appearances, scoring 39 points in all competitions.

He is seen by many, including Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, as one of the crown jewels in Exeter’s exciting vision for the future and news that he is staying put for the foreseeable future will be welcomed by everyone connected with the Chiefs.

“To be honest, it wasn’t a hard decision to sign a new contract with this fantastic club,” said Hodge. “Personally, I’m over the moon and I’m looking forward to my future here in the sunny county of Devon.

“There has been a lot of effort, good business decisions and hard work, both in training and on the pitch, to achieve the results the club has achieved in recent years.”

Alongside Hodge, the Chiefs are investing heavily in bringing through their next crop of

young talent, such as Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Marcus Street, Richard Capstick, Sam Maunder and Greg Fisilau to name but a few.

“I’m looking forward to working with the team to help the club attain its rightful position towards the top of all the competitions we take part in and justify the efforts of past players and trainers,” added Hodge.

“All the building blocks have been put in place by the board, backroom staff and coaches and it’s up to the team to work tirelessly to put the cherry on the cake and deliver the results the Chiefs and our fans deserve.”

Hodge’s decision to stay has been welcomed by Baxter, who added: “Josh is exactly the right age to be here for the next ten years. Let’s hope the next ten years for him include six or seven finals because that is what we want to build. We’ve had a great period with this current group and let’s hope we get even more opportunities with them before the end of the season that we can fight for and we can grab.

“We know Josh is hugely ambitious and that he wants to reach the very top end of the game. Our aim as a club and as coaches is to help him in every way to achieve his goals but, at the same time, build a new and exciting young group of players of which he can play a key part in that.”

kirsten aiming to see out spell with the chiefs with silverware

Jannes Kirsten intends to see out his Exeter Chiefs career by doing ‘all he can’ to bring further silverware to Sandy Park this season.

The South African announced last month that this will be his last season in Devon before he heads back to former club, the Vodacom Bulls.

Since arriving in July 2019, the 29-year-old has established himself as a key figure in Rob Baxter’s squad, helping the club to a Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup crown in 2020.

With 76 first-team appearances currently to his name, the imposing forward aims to add to that tally by helping the Chiefs into the latter stages of the Premiership, Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.

“It’s not easy to leave because I am still loving it over here,” he said. “It’s with a heavy heart that I go, but sometimes you have to think about yourself and your family and I do miss home.

“When I first arrived, I never expected this fantastic, little city to be so close to my heart - I’m very fond of the place and the people and I know I will come back one day to see the friends I’ve made.

“Right now, I don’t want to talk too much about leaving. We’re in a good spot in the Premiership and the Champions Cup and we’ve got a job to do. For us, it’s a good opportunity to bring back silverware. Of course it will be a big challenge, but results like beating Gloucester will certainly help us. Getting back into that top four, especially with not many games left in the season, it’s where you want to be.”

big game 14 kick-off time changed

Harlequins have confirmed kick-off time changes for their upcoming Big Game 14 fixtures with Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, March 4.

In what will be a mouth-watering afternoon of action at the home of English rugby, the London club are due to tackle the Chiefs in both the Allianz Premier 15s and Gallagher Premiership.

In a statement released by Harlequins, they state: ‘The kick-off times for both Men’s and Women’s matches have been altered following extensive consultation with multiple key stakeholders to allow supporters sufficient time to get to stadium on time, to minimise crowding on key travel routes on a busy Saturday of live events across London and support broadcast of the event.

The revised kick-off times are:

Harlequins Women vs Exeter Chiefs – 14:30 (previously 12:00)

Harlequins Men vs Exeter Chiefs – 17:15 (previously 15:00)

‘Harlequins have also made the difficult choice to close the upper tier of Twickenham Stadium following the enforced rescheduling of the event from its usual festive timing, due to RMT industrial action. The change of date of the event has meant many annual festive gettogethers of friends and families cannot take place. By closing the upper tier, Harlequins aims to maximise the atmosphere in the stadium and ensure all supporters have the best view of the pitch.’

As well as the two fixtures, there will be a live DJ set performance on the pitch by Faithless, as well free fairground rides and food and beverage outlets, face painting and mascots.

T: GRAY, KATA, WOODBURN

C: SKINNER

P: SKINNER

Chiefs: J Hodge; J Nowell, I Whitten (R O’Loughlin 76), S Kata (J Simmonds 76), O Woodburn; H Skinner, S Maunder (J Maunder 62); S Sio (J Kenny 72), J Innard (D Frost 50), H Williams (P Schickerling 72); J Gray (J Dunne 67), D Jenkins (capt); D Ewers, J Kirsten (A Davis 59), G Fisilau.

T: MAY, RAPAVA-RUSKIN

C: TWELVETREES (2)

P: EVANS

Gloucester: S Carreras; J May (T Seabrook 62), C Harris, S Atkinson, O Thorley; B Twelvetrees (L Evans 65), B Meehan (C Chapman 62); V Rapava-Ruskin (H Elrington 44), S Blake (H Walker 65), K Gotovtsev (J Ford-Robinson 76); C Jordan (F Clarke 62), M Alemmano; J Clement, L Ludlow (capt), A Tuisue (B Morgan 62).

Referee: T Foley

Attendance: 11,078

MATCH STATS

62% 61% 96 3

38% 39% 192 2

TOP PERFORMERS

YEANDLE STREET DUNNE GRAY KIRSTEN TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK INNARD KENNY SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN EWERS J MAUNDER O’LOUGHLIN CORDERO

YEANDLE STREET DUNNE GRAY KIRSTEN TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK INNARD KENNY SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN EWERS J MAUNDER KATA CORDERO

C-DICKIE WILLIAMS V HEERDEN GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK YEANDLE KENNY SCHICKERLING JENKINS S SIMMONDS S MAUNDER O’LOUGHLIN HOGG

INNARD RICHARDSON PEARSON TEAGUE LEATHERBARROW VINTCENT TUIMA NOREY SOUTHWORTH JOHNSON BAILEY GRUBB JAMES WYATT F NOWELL

C-DICKIE WILLIAMS DUNNE D JENKINS KIRSTEN VERMEULEN S SIMMONDS YEANDLE I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN CAPSTICK S MAUNDER J SIMMONDS KATA

YEANDLE WILLIAMS KIRSTEN GRAY VERMEULEN TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK C-DICKIE I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN EWERS S MAUNDER SKINNER KATA

C-DICKIE WILLIAMS V HEERDEN GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA VERMEULEN YEANDLE I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING DUNNE S SIMMONDS S MAUNDER J SIMMONDS O’LOUGHLIN

YEANDLE WILLIAMS V HEERDEN GRAY EWERS PEARSON VERMEULEN INNARD HEPBURN I-SCOTT DUNNE TSHIUNZA S MAUNDER J SIMMONDS KATA

YEANDLE WILLIAMS DUNNE V HEERDEN EWERS PEARSON VERMEULEN INNARD HEPBURN I-SCOTT JENKINS TUIMA S MAUNDER BECCONSALL O’BRIEN

INNARD WILLIAMS D JENKINS V HEERDEN EWERS PEARSON VERMEULEN FROST SIO SCHICKERLING DUNNE TUIMA S MAUNDER BECCONSALL FEYI-WABOSO

YEANDLE WILLIAMS D JENKINS V HEERDEN PEARSON TSHIUNZA VERMEULEN FROST SIO SCHICKERLING DUNNE EWERS S MAUNDER BECCONSALL KATA

INNARD I-SCOTT BELL BAILEY TUIMA DAVIS FISILAU NOREY SOUTHWORTH JOHNSON TEAGUE GRONDONA JAMES CORNISH F NOWELL

INNARD I-SCOTT DUNNE PEARSON TUIMA DAVIS FISILAU FROST SOUTHWORTH SCHICKERLING BAILEY GRONDONA CAIRNS HENDRICKSON WIMBUSH

YEANDLE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS FROST HEPBURN I-SCOTT V HEERDEN GRONDONA BECCONSALL KATA HODGE

C-DICKIE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS YEANDLE HEPBURN I-SCOTT V HEERDEN GRONDONA BECCONSALL KATA HODGE

YEANDLE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS FROST I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING DUNNE GRONDONA CAIRNS HENDRICKSON HOGG

YEANDLE WILLIAMS V HEERDEN GRAY GRONDONA TSHIUNZA FISILAU FROST I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING DUNNE PEARSON CAIRNS HENDRICKSON O’LOUGHLIN

C-DICKIE WILLIAMS D JENKINS DUNNE EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CLUB

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

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MANAGEMENT EXETER CHIEFS

TONY WALKER

TEAM MANAGER

ROB GIBSON

ACADEMY MANAGER

ADRIAN HARRIS

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE

JAMIE FULTON

HEAD OF SPORTS MEDICINE

ADAM REUBEN

CLUB DOCTOR

STEVE HAW

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

ALEX HOLLAND

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

JOSH KENNEDY

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

JONNY MARKS

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

CHRIS STOKES

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

TOM EAST

SPORTS REHABILITATOR

MARK TWIGGS

HEAD OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

ROB BEDDARD

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

JOE SATT

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

NICK COX

STRENGTH & REHABILITATION COACH

ARON STRUMINSKI

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

GARETH ELLIOTT

HEAD OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

MATT TRIBBLE / OLLIE CHALK

ANALYSTS

KYE MUNSLOW

OPERATIONS & KIT MANAGER

ROB BAXTER OBE DIRECTOR OF RUGBY

ROB HUNTER FORWARDS COACH

RICKY PELLOW SKILLS COACH

HAYDN THOMAS SENIOR COACH

GARETH STEENSON SENIOR COACH

ALI HEPHER HEAD COACH

OMAR MOUNEIMNE DEFENCE COACH

RUGBYSHORTS

ENGLAND STAR COKANASIGA PENS NEW DEAL WITH BATH

England and Bath winger Joe Cokanasiga has signed a contract extension to remain with the Gallagher Premiership side.

The 25-year-old joined Bath in 2018 and has since made more than 50 appearances for the club, including 14 this season where he has scored five tries.

Cokanasiga has been capped 14 times by England since his debut in 2018, with the last coming during November’s Autumn Nations Cup.

“There are goals I still want to accomplish here,” he said. “I really want to mark my time at the club by winning trophies; that’s a big ambition of mine. A lot of change has taken place over the past few years, but this season I’ve found consistency in my performances.”

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan added: “He has great physical attributes and his offloading ability has provided us with fantastic attacking opportunities. He is an exciting player and we have no doubt he will continue to be an integral member of our squad.”

BASSETT EXCITED TO BE PART OF EXCITING FUTURE AT THE TIGERS

Free-scoring winger Josh Bassett is among four new signigs Leicester Tigers have confirmed for the 2023/24 season.

Bassett - who is currently with Harlequins following the demise of Wasps - will be joined at Welford Road by former Worcester Warriors trio, fly-half Jamie Shillcock, forward Kyle Hatherall and hooker Finn TheoboldThomas.

“Josh is a prolific try-screr, hard-working player who offers plenty in defence out wide,”said Tigers head coach Richard Wigglesworth. “He adds great competition to our outside backs.”

Bassett, meanwhile, added: “The club has done a good job of building strong foundations in recent seasons and I am excited about being a part of the next steps. I want to continue developing, individually, and reach my potential. I see Leicester Tigers as the place to do that.”

Shillock has been playing for Mitsubishi DynaBoars in Japan, Hatherall for French club La Rochelle and Theobold-Thomas for Gloucester.

RFU SET NEW DEADLINE FOR CLUBS TO COMPLETE THEIR TAKEOVERS

The RFU have set the new owners of Wasps and Worcester Warriors a mid-February deadline to have their respective takeovers fully completed so that they can be given the goahead to compete in next season’s Championship.

The former Premiership clubs went to the wall at the start of the 2022/23 season, resulting in the top flight getting reduced from 13 to 11 clubs.

It was intimated that both clubs could return to rugby in the second tier for the 2023/24 season, but they have been set a fresh deadline to guarantee to English Rugby HQ they will definitely be ready for business next term.

The RFU has informed the new owners of Wasps RFC and the administrators for WRFC Trading Limited that they have until February 14 to conclude their negotitations and provide evidence they have met the relevant conditions set.

This is a significant extension to the original mid-December timeline. However, a final deadline must be set to provide certainty to the Championship, National Leagues and other rugby stakeholders over the format of next season.

FORMER ENGLAND STAR BROWN IN AT TIGERS ON SHORT-TERM DEAL

Leicester Tigers have signed former England full-back Mike Brown on a short-term contract, initially as cover during the Guinness Six Nations.

The former Harlequins favourite, 37, whgo left for Newcastle in 2021, has been without a club since leaving the Falcons opted not to take up the option of an extra year in his contract last summer.

“I still believe I have a part to play in the game” he said. “I didn’t believe it was my time to stop because I still feel good.”

Tigers head coach Richard Wigglesworth added: “Mike is an experienced Premiership player, who has represented his country and won trophies at club and Test level. His experience and knowledge is vital during this Six Nations period where we have a number of players away. Mike is hungry to prove himself.”

Brown won two Premiership titles with Quins and was a three-times Six Nations winner.

SARRIES SIGN BATH FORWARD IN BID TO BOOST PLAYER NUMBERS

Back-row forward Tom Ellis has signed for Saracens on a short-term loan deal from Gallagher Premiership rivals Bath.

The 29-year-old has made more than 100 appearances for Bath since his debut in 2014, including 13 this season.

“Tom has an opportunity to experience a new club and to earn more game time,” said Bath head of rugby Johaan van Graan. “We wish him well during that period and look forward to welcoming him back in the next six weeks.

Ellis is joining Sarries to provide cover for injury and players missing because of the Six Nations.

The home of domestic rugby

REFEREE: HAMISH SMALES

TOUCH JUDGES: DAN JONES & JONATHAN

4TH OFFICIAL: KEVIN WILLIAMS

TMO: DAVID ROSE

TK: ANDREW PEARCE

OPPOSITION

Founded:

Biggest Win: 40-19 v Harlequins

Heaviest Defeat: 43-19 v Bristol Bears

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY: Alex Sanderson

CAPTAIN: Jono Ross

GROUND: AJ Bell Stadium

SALE SHARKS

Sale Sharks head to the Westcountry for the first of two trips to Sandy Park this month looking to inflict Premiership Rugby Cup heartache on hosts Exeter Chiefs

In what is sure to be a mouth-watering, North versus South match-up, both clubs will be going all out to land the first telling blow with a place in next month’s final up for grabs for today’s victors.

Having seen their own hopes of hosting a home semi-final thwarted a week ago by Bristol Bears, the Sharks will be looking for an immediate riposte against the Chiefs, who over the years have thrived in this very competition.

With both sides minus a number of their frontline stars due to the Six Nations Championship and the chance to give them a rare week off, it

will be others who get the chance to shine on the big stage.

For the visitors, Senior Academy coach Gareth Harris shuffles his pack from a week ago, handing first starts for the club for young flankers Will Riley and Tristan Woodman. There is also a first start in over a year for experienced scrum-half Will Cliff.

Elsewhere, Harris has picked a mix of youth and experience with Tommy Taylor, Coenie Oosthuizen, Luke James, Jason Woodward and the former Exeter duo, Sam Hill and Byron McGuigan, providing some hard-edged experience alongside Academy youngsters such as Tumy Onasanya, Will Wootton, Yande Nkonge and Alex Groves. There is, however, no place this week for England international George Ford, who made his debut for the Manchester-based club at Bristol Bears last time out.

The summer signing had not played a competitive game since last year’s Gallagher Premiership final, where he ruptured his Achilles during Leicester’s last-gasp victory over Saracens at Twickenham.

Although a low-key return to the fold for the 30-year-old,

the sight of the 84-capped playmaker on the field at Ashton Gate will no doubt have provided a huge boost to Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson for what promises to be a thrilling second half to the season.

With the Sharks sitting pretty in second spot in the Premiership, hopes are high that they can continue their rich vein of form and seal that all-important home spot in the end of season play-offs.

“George has been brilliant around the club,” said Harris. “He’s been focused on getting himself and his rehab right, but when you’ve got somebody with that amount of experience and that amount of knowledge, he’s been brilliant to have around the place to bounce ideas off.

“As I said, he’s really contributed and he has the respect of the group, so when he speaks, the lads listen. We’re excited now to see him kick on from the injury.”

Ford is expected to feature later this month against the Chiefs, as are two more familiar faces in the shape of Jonny Hill and Tom O’Flaherty, both of whom left Sandy Park last season to join the Sharks.

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NIGEL WALROND

It was great to see 1,000 guests, including Gareth Edwards, Willie John McBride, Mike Gibson, JPR Williams and Derek Quinnell, come together at Celtic Manor in south Wales at the end of last month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous Barbarians-New Zealand game in which Edwards scored ‘that try’.

Growing up through the 1970s, the only live rugby to watch on television in those days was the Five Nations Championship, the Varsity Match, and the occasional Barbarians game.

Rugby Special with the great Nigel Starmer-Smith on Sunday afternoons provided highlights of one English, Welsh and Scottish club game, and that was it for televised rugby. The scarcity of live games made everything seem so magical, and the players quickly became heroes to those youngsters like me who loved feasting on sport.

I was amazed that my mum never worked out how I was always ill on a Tuesday in early December, which enabled me to sit in front of the fire at home and watch Oxford University played Cambridge University at Twickenham. The trick was to leave the thermometer in the cup of tea that she brought me each morning long enough to register that I had a temperature, but no so long that you broke the gauge!

Strangely, I was always well enough to go to school the following day.

Even though I loved watching that Welsh team of the 1970s, in which my favourite player was Phil Bennett, my rugby hero was England winger David Duckham –a love for him that was shared by my dad.

Sadly, David died less than three weeks before that anniversary dinner, but it was in that Babas game that he was able to showcase his amazing speed and wonderful running skills, to the point that Welsh fans renamed him ‘Dai’.

England back in those days were dour and a pretty tough watch, but Duckham used to light up Saturday afternoons on Grandstand when they were playing, as he cut his way through opposition defenders almost at will.

I had the pleasure of meeting him at a rugby dinner in Plymouth many years ago, and people always say that it is dangerous to meet your heroes as they often disappoint, but I felt absolutely no disappointment after this meeting. I got his autograph and he was a pleasure to have a chat with, before I had to move swiftly along for the next person wanting to get his autograph.

I wonder what he would have made of watching England start life under Steve Borthwick with defeat to Scotland last weekend?

I told a friend last Saturday morning that, out of the opening three games, the one I was most looking forward to and found most fascinating was Italy against France. I wasn’t disappointed as they served up a thriller in Rome.

I thought Ireland would crush Wales, and England would comfortably beat Scotland, but how wrong I was on the latter as Scotland made it three Calcutta Cup wins on the trot, and deservedly so.

Duhan van Der Merwe scored a try for the Scots so typical of Duckham in his heyday and one he would have been proud to score himself.

The question now is can Italy back up that performance against France by giving England all sorts of trouble at Twickenham straight after today’s Premiership Cup semi-final between Exeter and Sale? I am sure it will be another fascinating watch.

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP ROUND 16 REVIEW

EXETER CHIEFS 24

T: Gray, Kata, Woodburn

C: Skinner (3); P: Skinner

GLOUCESTER 17

T: May, Rapava-Ruskin

C: Twelvetrees; P: Evans

LONDON IRISH 42

T: Marchant, David; P: Allan (2)

HARLEQUINS 24

T: O’Flaherty, du Preez, van der Merwe, Wiese; C: du Preez (2)

LEICESTER TIGERS 18

T: Potter (2);

C: Pollard; P: Pollard, Burns

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 19

T: Sleightholme

C: Furbank; P: Furbank (4)

SALE SHARKS 30

T: Carpenter, Dugdale, Roebuck, Taylor, Reed;

C: R du Preez; P: R du Preez

BATH 27

T: Annett, Joseph, Spencer;

C: Spencer (3); P: Spencer (2)

SARACENS 20

T: Dan, Segun, Hougaard;

C: Goode; P: Goode

BRISTOL BEARS 19

T: Thacker, Ibitoye

C: Atkinson (3)

TOP POINTS SCORERS

TOP TRY SCORERS

TOP METRES MADE

TOP CARRIES MADE

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP ROUND 17 FIXTURES

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OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR CAIRNS IN SEMI-FINAL TIE

NEXT GENERATION OUT TO MAKE THEIR MARK

Opportunity knocks this afternoon for Tom Cairns and his Exeter Chiefs teammates as they look to secure themselves a place in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup final .

In a competition which has served the Chiefs well over the years, it’s the Class of 2022/23 that have the chance to write another chapter in the success story of the Devon club.

Whereas in 2014 it was the likes of Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie coming into the senior ranks at Sandy Park, these days Cairns is part and parcel of Exeter’s next generation of young players, all of whom harbour the same hopes of picking up their first piece of major silverware.

“It’s a big opportunity, not just for me, but for all of us as a group,” said the young scrumhalf. “The Premiership Rugby Cup is massive for all young players, simply because it puts you on a platform to showcase your talents, as well as show the coaches that you can handle different pressure situations.”

Having overcome Westcountry rivals Bristol Bears, Bath and Gloucester in the pool stages, Cairns knows the Chiefs will tackle a formidable force in the shape of Sale Sharks to reach next month’s final.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were playing at Bristol in that first game, yet here we are now, just one game away from hopefully getting ourselves into the final,” added Cairns. “As I said, this game is a huge opportunity not just for us as players, but for the whole club in general.

“This week you can feel the buzz about the place - there is a real excitement within the changing room. Training has been really good, especially the accuracy and the tempo with how we’ve done things, but now we’ve just got to take all of that out onto the field and put in a big performance this weekend.”

Putting the hard yards in training is nothing new for Cairns, whose first real introduction to rugby came at nearby Teignmouth RFC, the same club which has also started the flegling careers of fellow Chiefs, Joe and Sam Simmonds, as well as Max Norey.

Since arriving at Sandy Park, the 20-year-old has worked closely under the guidance of skills coach Ricky Pellow and the club’s battalion of other number nines.

“Ricky has been awesome, ever since I arrived at the club,” added Cairns. “Equally, I’ve been able to learn off all the nines, guys like the Maunder brothers, Stu Townsend, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, even Nic White and Will Chudley were here for a bit. All of them have been like role models and given me advice which I’ve done my best to use to improve my game.”

As well as developing his rugby, Cairns is one of a number of players who have spent the past few years combining training and playing with the Chiefs with that of studying at the University of Exeter.

“When I was younger, I’ll be honest, I never had any intention of going to uni,” he said. “But coming to the club - and with the links they have - it’s just worked so well. There are a few of us doing degrees in Sport Science, Business, even Liberal Arts and between us it’s giving us a career in rugby, as well as planning for a career after rugby.”

It’s a production line that clearly works on all fronts, a point underlined this weekend with fellow students Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza both starting for Wales in their Guinness Six Nations Championship clash with Scotland.

“They are kind of leading the way for all of us,” said Cairns. “It’s great to see them doing so well. They’ve both been playing in the Premiership and Champions Cup, Daf even captained the side in the Premiership, so it shows there is a pathway for any of us to follow.

“Personally, I just want to make the most of any opportunities I get. I didn’t have too many last season, but this year I’ve had more and this weekend is another chance for me and all the boys.”

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.

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.”

WOMEN’S FIXTURES, RESULTS & STATS

LIVE FOR MATCH DAY

ROBERTS MOLONEY GRIMES FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH

ROBERTS MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH

MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON

MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON

MIDDLEBROOKE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN

MUZAMBE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY FLEMING JEFFERIES LEITCH

WOODMAN

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

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

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

ROGERS TUTTOSI MENIN FRYDAY FLEMING JEFFERIES JOHNSON ZACKARY NIELSON TURANI HANLON LEONARD LEITCH BRADLEY WILKINS CRAMER

ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI

ROGERS

TURANI

REPLACEMENT OFF THE BENCH BENCH RED CARD YELLOW CARD

T: NIELSON, MACDONALD, JEFFERIES, CANTORNA, ZACKARY, MOLONEY, MCGILLIVRAY, JOHNSON

(2)

C: CANTORNA (8)

Chiefs: M Doidge (L Cramer 73); J Ounsley, N McGillivray, G Cantorna, C MacDonald; R Wilkins (L McGoverne 54), F Robinson (B Bradley 73); S Turani (H Rogers 54) C Nielson (C Moloney 61), D Menin (C Jacoby 61); P Leitch (capt), M Leonard (A Fleming 56); E Jefferies, R Johnson, K Zackary (E McMahon 61).

DMP Sharks: T Feury (C Lacey 68); K Craine (K Kacirkova 68), K Thomas-Roberts (CC), L Taylor, D Phan; M Bizer, O Ortiz (C Broom 68); E Hunter (M Gardner 25), N Haynes (K Treder 56), C Pratt (K Colvin 56); T Cowan (CC, L Thorpe 69), K Smith (I Hannay 67); T Churm, R Ehrecke, J Hazell.

Yellow Card: Colvin

Attendance: 2,080

MATCH STATS

69% 71% 55 9

31% 39% 161 0

TOP PERFORMERS

T: TUTTOSI, McGOVERNE (2), MACDONALD, JOHNSON, SINCLAIR, ROBINSON, SHEEHAN, ZACKARY (3), McMAHON, ROGERS

C: CRAMER (4), McGOVERNE (3)

Wasps: L Musgrove (H Friend 68); J-J Linkins (S Flowers 58), T Vaughan-Fowler, H Edwards, M Lewis; E Lennon, T Braunerova (P Roberts 40); L Clark (capt, H Ironton 53), C Blanco, A Stock (H Ellender 33), S Pinnock, G Wood; E Tuck, S Mead, F Cooper.

Yellow Card: Ellender

Chiefs: L Cramer (M Doidge 58); J Ounsley, N McGillivray (G Senft 15), L McGoverne, E Sinclair (L Sheehan 51); R Wilkins, C MacDonald (F Robinson 58); S Turani (H Rogers 58) E Tuttosi (C Nielson 51), C Jacoby (D Menin 58); N Fryday (M Leonard 48), P Leitch (capt); R Johnson, E McMahon K Zackary.

MATCH STATS

Referee: J Cook Attendance: 200 47% 51% 87 0 53% 49% 145 14

TOP PERFORMERS

MANAGEMENT EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN

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oRCHARD MANOR YOUNGSTERS BENEFIT FROM PROJECT RUGBY PROGRAMME

Exeter Chiefs Community coach Frankie Dart says delivering the hugely successful Project Rugby programme to youngsters at Orchard Manor School in Dawlish has proved an ‘amazing experience’ for everyone involved.

For the past six weeks, the Chiefs have been working with pupils between Year 8 to Year 10 delivering core skills such as passing, tagging and reaction skills. Project Rugby is run by Premiership Rugby in collaboration with England Rugby designed to increase

participation in the game by people from traditionally under-represented groups.

Frankie said: “Going into Orchard Manor has been an amazing experience, especially as all the students have been really good, engaging in every session and taking on board the points we have been putting across to them.

“As well as the pupils, the staff have also been very helpful and I can’t thank enough for their support in every lesson.”

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