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Exeter Chiefs board to discuss potential rebrand this week

The Exeter Chiefs' controversial Native American mascot character. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Exeter Chiefs are set to discuss a potential rebrand of the club at a board meeting this week. The club have recently found themselves under increasing pressure to rethink their branding, which includes a Native American character dressed in a Chiefs kit.

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It is being reported that club bosses have taken note of the ongoing debate surrounding the use of the Native American character and will discuss their branding at a board meeting on Wednesday.

The views of sponsors and the tone of recent media coverage are likely to be taken into consideration.

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Some Exeter supporters have been extremely vocal in their opposition to the current branding, with a petition calling for the club to re-brand gathering over 3,500 signatures.

The petition’s website outlines their issues with Exeter’s branding: “The stylised Chief on the club’s crest, the Big Chief mascot, the headdresses and tomahawks adorning the supporters, and the Tomahawk Chop chant are all examples of cultural appropriation of the Indigenous Peoples who were all but wiped out by white European settlers and who still suffer extreme examples of racial prejudice today across the world.”

The debate has split Exeter supporters, with a rival petition arguing: ‘The usage of the Native American in the Exeter Chiefs logo and brand is to honour and respect their cultural beliefs.”

That petition has gathering more than 2,000 signatures so far.

Exeter are not the only major sports team to find themselves in this situation.

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Washington’s NFL franchise recently confirmed that they would change their branding and drop their Redskins name and logo which had been in place for 87-years.

The franchise came under scrutiny in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has highlighted ongoing issues surrounding race. Many had felt the Redskins name and logo was offensive to Native Americans.

Fellow NFL side the Kansas City Chiefs and baseball’s Cleveland Indians have also seen their team branding come into question, including fan protests outside games being played behind closed doors.

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Simon 9 hours ago
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In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.

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