Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs is an English rugby union club based in the city of the same name. In this article, we will discuss its history, its most successful players, and review the team's major achievements.

History of Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs plays in the same league as Leicester Tigers. The club's history began in 1871. It was originally called Exeter Rugby Club. It is one of the oldest rugby clubs in England. Like its arch-rival Leinster Rugby, it has achieved a lot in the national championship and on the international stage.

The first official match involving Exeter Chiefs took place in 1873. It was a match against St. Luke's College. In 1890, the team won its first significant victory in the Devon Cup.

In 1905, Exeter Rugby Club played a historic match against New Zealand. Until the 1990s, the team competed in regional divisions and lower leagues, as there was no national structure at that time. With the formation of national leagues, Exeter began to gradually but steadily rise to the top: in 1996, it won the National League 2 South, in 1997, it became the best in the National League 1 and rose higher.

In 1999, the club officially changed its name to Exeter Chiefs. Prior to that, it had been used as the team's historical nickname since the 1930s, complemented by appropriate symbols inspired by Native American themes, which caused controversy in the 21st century. The disputes and debates led to the modernisation of the emblem. It is based on the historical roots of the region (the Dumnonii tribe from the Celtic era), but the name Chiefs has remained.

Until 2010, the club played in the lower leagues, then won the RFU Championship for the first time and entered Premiership Rugby, the top division of English rugby. The team is listed among the most successful rugby clubs in England, alongside Saracens, founded in 1876 in London. Exeter Chiefs can be compared in level to Bath Rugby. Among the club's main rivals, Bristol Bears can also be highlighted.

Exeter Chiefs Logo

Exeter Chiefs uses a corporate logo depicting the profile of a head wearing a helmet. Historically, this image was based on a stylised depiction of a chief. For a long time, it was controversial due to its associations with Native American themes.

In 2022, the club rebranded to move away from the controversial association with images of North American indigenous peoples, replacing its visual identity with one inspired by the ancient Celtic culture of the Dumnonii tribe, who inhabited Devon and Cornwall before the Roman occupation.

Exeter Chiefs achievements

Exeter Chiefs quickly became one of the strongest teams in Premiership Rugby. The team won its first title in the 2016-2017 season. Their second Premiership victory dates back to 2019-2020.

Even earlier, in 2010, the club became the best in the RFU Championship. Another well-known English rugby team, Sale Sharks, has a more modest history of victories.

In October 2020, Exeter Chiefs won the European Rugby Champions Cup, claiming Europe's top club trophy in the final against France's Racing 92.

Exeter Chiefs is the only club to have won all four tiers of English rugby's pyramid competition:

1. Premiership Rugby (2017, 2020).
2. RFU Championship (2010).
3. National League 1 (1997).
4. National League 2 South (1996).

The club has won the Anglo-Welsh Cup three times. The last victory dates back to the 2022-2023 season.

Coach

Rob Baxter is the head coach and director of rugby at Exeter Chiefs. He has worked hard to build a strong team over a long period of time. Rob Baxter oversees the training process.

Team roster

Team roster for the 2025-2026 season.

The captain of Exeter Chiefs is Jack Yeandle, who plays hooker. In every match, he demonstrates leadership qualities, representing his club at a high level in Premiership Rugby.

Among the best players on the team are:

1. Henry Slade – plays centre, is one of the highest-scoring players, takes an active part in attacks and initiates them.
2. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – a bright and fast player who is capable of scoring and poses a real threat in attack.
3. Stephen Varney — an Italian-Welsh scrum-half with international experience.
4. Ross Vintcent — a powerful flanker who also plays for the Italian national team and excels in both attack and defence.
5. Dafydd Jenkins is a talented young lock from Wales who has shown outstanding leadership qualities and achieved success at international level. He plays a key role in the forward line.

We would like to highlight the Exeter Chiefs players who played for the British & Irish Lions. Sam Simmonds appeared in the national team in 2021 and played in the Lions tour. He played in the back row, and his success on the international stage was preceded by training at the Chiefs academy.

Jack Nowell played for the British & Irish Lions in 2017 and was part of the 2017 New Zealand tour while a member of Exeter Chiefs. He plays in the Wing, Fullback and Centre positions.

Tomas Francis was also included in the British & Irish Lions squad in 2017 and took part in the tour matches. He plays at prop.

Luke Cowan-Dickie, a former Exeter Chiefs player, strengthened the British & Irish Lions in 2021 and 2025. However, by the time the latter squad was formed, he had already moved to Sale Sharks.

Home stadium

Since 2006, Exeter Chiefs have played their home matches at Sandy Park Stadium, a purpose-built arena located on the outskirts of Exeter. It has a capacity of approximately 15,600. Previously, the team's home stadium was County Ground.

Sandy Park opened on 1 September 2006. The pitch has a hybrid surface, and the arena is located a short distance from Junction 30 of the M5 motorway, approximately 5 miles from the centre of Exeter.

The stadium has four main stands: West Grandstand, South Stand, East Stand and North Terrace (where the most active fans are usually located). In addition to rugby matches, Sandy Park is used as a conference centre and event venue, with a large number of adaptable halls and rooms for events of various sizes.

Sandy Park Plan

The Sandy Park stadium layout includes the main spectator areas located around a rectangular rugby field measuring 100 m x 70 m. The West Grandstand is the main covered grandstand with seating, including corporate areas and the best viewing spots.

The South Stand is opposite the North Terrace and also has seating. The East Stand is a recently expanded stand with good views of the pitch and additional seating. In addition, there is the North Terrace, a standing terrace popular with fans.

Layout:

1. Blocks A, B, C, and D are located in the North Terrace.
2. The SW Comms Stand is located behind the south line of the pitch.
3. The West Grandstand has upper and lower sections.
4. The East Stand has standing and seated sections.

Shop

Exeter Chiefs have their own shop located at Sandy Park Stadium in Exeter, Devon, England. The products on offer can be purchased in person on match days when the shop is open, or ordered online.

Fans can purchase:

1. Replica match shirts, training kits and club clothing.
2. Casual wear and accessories with club branding: T-shirts, hoodies, caps, hats.
3. Souvenirs and gifts: key rings, wallets, mugs.
4. Special collections, such as the limited edition collection to mark the club's 150th anniversary.

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