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Exeter statement: Tony Rowe and the alleged 'fading dynasty'
Exeter have issued a statement calling out critics who alleged this time last year that the Chiefs were a fading dynasty. The 2020 Gallagher Premiership and European Cup double winners endured an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign, finishing seventh in the league.
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They also lost long-established stars such as the Simmonds brothers, Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Harry Williams and Dave Ewers to rival clubs abroad and in England.
However, they have bounced back this season and are currently just one point off the play-off positions in the league. They have also reached the last 16 in Europe where they will host Bath in early April while 10 players have recently played international rugby in the Guinness Six Nations or with England A.
This upturn in fortunes has now resulted in Exeter circulating a media statement titled: Tony Rowe issues warning to doubters.
Its content read: “Exeter chairman and CEO Tony Rowe condemns those who doubted the Chiefs as they once again prove that they have what it takes to challenge for glory in the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup.
Gallagher Premiership
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Northampton
12
9
3
0
44
2
Harlequins
12
7
5
0
37
3
Bath
12
7
5
0
37
4
Saracens
12
7
5
0
36
5
Exeter Chiefs
12
7
5
0
35
6
Leicester
12
7
5
0
33
7
Sale
12
7
5
0
32
8
Bristol
12
6
6
0
30
9
Gloucester
12
3
9
0
22
10
Newcastle
12
0
12
0
4
“Barely 12 months on from being written off as a fading dynasty with a host of front-line names announcing their departures, Exeter now have 10 players thriving on the international stage.
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“Roll the clock back to nearly a year ago: in March 2023 speculation was rife on how Chiefs could recover from the perceived blow of front-line talismans like Sam Simmonds, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Simmonds, Harry Williams and Dave Ewers departing Exeter at the end of the season.
“This resulted in many writing the Chiefs off. However, the cogs were in motion to build a new team of talented individuals. By bidding farewell to players nearing the ends of their careers or choosing to retire, Exeter were ushering in the exciting prospect of new recruits and home-grown talent.
“Alongside the talent fostered by the Exeter Chiefs academy and the links with the University of Exeter, Rob Baxter’s recruitment was integral to the challenge of building a competitive team for the 2023/24 season.
“To date, Chiefs have secured seven wins in the Premiership with a play-off spot still on the cards. There was also a semi-final appearance in the Prem Cup, with a last-16 appearance in the Investec Champions Cup still to come at Sandy Park.
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“Impressive performances in all competitions meant the Chiefs men began to catch the eyes of international coaches. The result is a total of six Chiefs named in Guinness Six Nations camps – Henry Slade, Ethan Roots and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for England; Dafydd Jenkins as captain of Wales; Alec Hepburn for Scotland and Ross Vintcent called up to Italy.
“Slade, the lasting fan-favourite, has enjoyed a resurgence amongst his eager Chiefs teammates, while barnstorming Roots and hot-footed Feyi-Waboso both caught Steve Borthwick’s eyes as talents for the future of English rugby.
“Jenkins, emerging as a quiet, lead-by-example captain in Chiefs colours, was handed the honour by Warren Gatland to become the second youngest Welsh captain in history. Hepburn’s Scottish eligibility inspired Gregor Townsend, who called upon the Aussie-born prop to bolster his thistle ranks.
Feyi-Waboso finds a way ?
A perfect line from the @ExeterChiefs winger to score his first @EnglandRugby try on Saturday ?pic.twitter.com/grusd8mA0U
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) February 28, 2024
“Vintcent, surpassing all personal goals already this season with appearances in the Premiership and Champions Cup, muscled his way into Gonzalo Quesada’s Italian plans through sheer hard work.
“In addition, exciting full-back Josh Hodge, hard-carrying back-rower Greg Fisilau, exuberant lock Rusi Tuima and tough tighthead prop Josh Iosefa-Scott were all called upon by Borthwick to test themselves in the England A squad with a keen eye on their possible England first-team futures.
“The wealth of knowledge players will accumulate in their country squads will be filtered back into Baxter’s young squad, inspiring teammates to realise with grit and determination, it could be a chance available to them as well.
“The season is not yet complete so, with knockout rugby and a tough Premiership campaign to complete, there are still opportunities for other talented individuals in the squad to shine.
“This young squad has maintained the remarkable record that Exeter hold at fortress Sandy Park, and with record attendances and season ticket sales for the 2024/25 season already surpassing 3,000, the fans are flocking to see them in action.
“Tony Rowe, who has overseen the club through its journey from the National Leagues to the pinnacle of European rugby, is right to remind the sporting world that they should think twice before they write off the Exeter Chiefs.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments