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'We have a track record': CEO of Exeter's new owners speaks

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso of Exeter Chiefs celebrates scoring his team's fourth try with teammates Andrea Zambonin and Stephen Varney during the EPCR Challenge Cup match between Exeter Chiefs and Munster Rugby at Sandy Park on April 04, 2026 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Ryan Caswell, CEO of Cannae Holdings, the new owners of Exeter Chiefs, has broken his silence and has spoken about their ambition to take the club to the next level.

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Last season, the Chiefs lost the Gallagher Prem final to Northampton Saints, the Prem Rugby Cup final to Leicester Tigers and in the Challenge Cup semi-final to Ulster.

Caswell, who visited Devon last week, says that they have a record of success after AFC Bournemouth qualified for European competition for the first time in their history last season, and their NHL franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

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He told the Chiefs website, putting the rest of the Prem on notice that Cannae will take the lessons they have learnt in football and ice hockey to bring success to Sandy Park.

“We believe that we can leverage many of the learnings that we have experienced at Bournemouth to grow both Exeter’s brand and performance, as well as to help grow the sport.

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“We looked at Exeter’s history, brand, community, and infrastructure, and proven history of success. Our question was how we could use all of that and push the club to the next level.

“Clearly, the men had a great result making it to the final, and we hope that resets the expectations going forward. We have ambition. We have a track record of success with Bournemouth and Bill Foley’s Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL.

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“We also have views of what creates success while very much appreciating that this is a different sport with a different community and a different fan base.

“We want to be very respectful of that while at the same time trying to find ways where we can add value and achieve the ambition of the club. We’ve looked at many different sports, but rugby is a game with an incredible history, and it is very entertaining.

“We think there is upside in the US and globally. There’s a great fan base around rugby, which is exciting to us,” said Caswell.

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