'Extraordinary times' - Exeter boss Tony Rowe pens open letter
Exeter Chiefs Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Rowe has penned a gushing open letter to the club’s faithful in what he has described as ‘extraordinary times’ for the sport.
Exeter have been forced to stage a friendly at Sandy Park this weekend after Gallagher Premiership rivals Wasps pulled out of the fixture after indicating that they are entering administration, the second club to do in so many weeks after Worcester Warriors closed its doors.
Remarkably the Chiefs have been able to pull together a game against local rivals Bristol Bears at short notice.
Rowe has now sought to reassure Exeter fans and thank them for their ongoing support as the sport enters a turbulent post-pandemic landscape.
“These are extraordinary times for our Sport and with the problems faced by both Worcester Warriors and Wasps, there has never been a greater need for togetherness and support. We have been saddened by what has happened at both clubs and we hope for a positive outcome for everyone involved.
“My time at the helm of Exeter Rugby Club has always been about balancing the necessity for growth on and off the field, with the deployment of a careful and calculated financial strategy, never overstretching ourselves, whilst maintaining long-term growth as a core principle.
“Our fans have been at the heart of this strategy, and your support has been vital in allowing our club to reach the heights that we have enjoyed together over the past 25 years!
“This Saturday we have worked hard to ensure that we are still able to come together and enjoy a match day at Sandy Park despite the loss of our original fixture. Whilst it will not be the Gallagher Premiership battle that we had all hoped for, we can’t wait to welcome Bristol Bears to Exeter and we’re grateful to them for providing opposition at such short notice!
“There is never a backward step taken in a West Country Derby and I have no doubt that the action on the pitch will provide world class entertainment.
“We’re also delighted that the whole squad will be at the stadium for the day, interacting with you, our fantastic fans, and taking part in a variety of events around the ground, from signings to Q&A’s. It promises to be a celebratory mood at Sandy Park!
“We understand your disappointment at the change of fixture, but we ask you to stand with us and keep supporting the team. This club is nothing without the Chiefs Family who turn up week in, week out, and we thank you for making Sandy Park the incredible place it has become,” concluded the letter.
The English top flight is indeed entering uncharted territory with the apparent demise of two clubs within the space of a fortnight.
Exeter’s director of rugby Rob Baxter has suggested that a 10-team Premiership could be the best way for the league to thrive in the future.
“I thought it was madness to go to 13 (teams),” Baxter said. “Going to 13 in a weird kind of way almost signed a warrant for someone to not be able to stay in there.
“Before anything else it doesn’t make any common sense and it wrecks the calendar anyway.
“A league of 10 home and away, with their international commitments and a cup competition for the guys not involved in internationals, starts to sound very common sense.”
additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments