Castres Match Day Programme

CHEERS TO ALL FANS

Good afternoon to you all and welcome back to Sandy Park for our Heineken Champions Cup clash with Castres Olympique.

In what is our final pool game of the competition, we head into today’s fixture knowing that we are already assured of a place in the last 16, thanks to the losing bonus point we picked up in South Africa a week ago against the Bulls.

The job, however, is far from done as the key aim now is to ensure we have home advantage in the next phase of the competition. To do that, we must do our utmost to overcome our French visitors and secure the victory we crave.

Although pointless from their three games so far, Castres are a proud club and no doubt they will arrive here in Devon determined to end their own campaign on somewhat of a high note.

The threat they pose is certainly significant, particularly as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from today’s match.

The Champions Cup, as we know from past experience, is the pinnacle of the club game, bringing together the top 24 cliubs from across Europe (and Africa) in a series of showpiece fixtures.

Having won the competition back in 2020, we know all too well what it takes to succeed at this level and fixtures like today are the ones that challenge us as a squad and as a club.

Over the years, Europe has also provided us with some memorable away-day memories and our trip to Pretoria last week again did just that. Although a lengthy trek, the trip itself - albeit the end resultwas fantastic and not only allowed us to spread the name of Exeter Chiefs to another part of the world, but also allowed us to build some quality contacts within the game.

To those supporters who travelled over as well, it was brilliant to see you before, during and after the game really enjoying the whole experience.

Whilst away, I was also being kept up to date with the fortunes of our women’s side who, it has to be said, produced a stunning performance to defeat reigning champions Saracens here at Sandy Park.

Susie Appleby and her team have certainly attacked the Allianz Premier 15s so far this season and this latest result was further evidence of how they are progressing week by week.

On all fronts, the club are progressing well and as we advance further into 2023, I’m excited at

happen next!

TONY ROWE CBE

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXETER RUGBY CLUB

what can

“ We know all too well what it takes to succeed at this level and fixtures like today are the ones that challenge us as a squad and as a club

PROUDLY SERVING THE TRADES & DIY SINCE 1770.

welcome

A warm welcome to this Round 4 match in the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup and a Happy New Year to all as we reach the business end of the tournament’s pool stage.

Following the historic introduction of the leading South African clubs, it comes as no surprise that the Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers have already made a major impact and all remain in contention to book coveted places in the knockout stage.

With the top eight clubs in each pool guaranteed qualification, there’s an important incentive in that the four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will earn home matches in the Round of 16. In addition, the clubs which finish ninth and 10th in each pool will qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

So, after what promises to be more world-class action this month, we’ll have a clearer idea of the pathway to the eagerly-anticipated Finals weekend at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next May for which nearly 70,000 tickets have already been sold.

We are delighted to be joined on the journey to Dublin by our long-standing title partner, Heineken, by our official partners, DHL, IHG and Tissot, by our official supporters, Gilbert and Kappa, and also by our official airline partner in South Africa, Qatar Airways.

Our long-standing broadcast partners, BT Sport, beIN SPORTS and France Télévisions, continue to provide superb coverage of the Heineken Champions Cup in the UK, Ireland and France respectively, while SuperSport in South Africa, ITV and RTÉ in the UK and Ireland, S4C in Wales and FloRugby in the USA and Canada are already making valuable contributions to the growth of tournament.

We hope that you enjoy the match and best wishes to you, the fans, as well as to your club’s players and staff as we anticipate the joy and the occasional heartache that comes when qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup knockout stage is on the line!

DOMINIC MCKAY

EPCR CHAIRMAN

“

The quality and tradition of the three South African sides will add a new layer of interest as the Heineken Champions Cup extends its global reach

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to everyone attending Rounds 4 of the 2022/23 Heineken® Champions Cup and wish you all a Happy New Year. are all very much looking forward to seeing them face Europe’s best sides in the weeks and months ahead.

Last month we hit the ground running with some truly memorable fixtures, and it’s safe to say that those ties have whetted our appetite for these next rounds of games to kick off 2023.

As always, we wish the best of luck to all participating sides and for this season’s tournament we extend a special welcome to The DHL Stormers, The Vodacom Bulls and The Cell C Sharks from South Africa.

Their participation brings an additional competitive and international edge to this great tournament, and I’m sure, like me, you

BOUDEWIJN HAARSMA

MANAGING DIRECTOR HEINEKEN UK

ROB baxter

Today, we enter our final pool game of this season’s Champions Cup with everything to play for. With 11 points already in the bag, victory this afternoon can secure a home last 16 fixture with a good performance and, could also give us the opportunity to fight for a home quarter-final, so this really is a very significant game for the club.

The last couple of weeks have been really important for us, firstly beating Northampton Saints pushed us up the Gallagher Premiership table, where we are now very much in touch with the top four.

After that, we then we dealt with a lot of challenges in Pretoria to secure the all-importtant losing bonus point against the Bulls. Of course, you want to win every game you play, but often in this competition away points of any kind can make all the difference when the qualification for the final rounds is ultimately decided.

The opportunity for a home last 16 game is now in our hands, rather than us waiting on other people, and although we still have a big challenge today againsy Castres, we at least we have a definite goal to fight for and that’s something I’ve spelt out to the squad this week.

One of the highlights of last week in South Africa was seeing the number of Chiefs supporters in Pretoria. Many who travelled stayed in the team hotel and then each group could be clearly heard in the ground supporting the team both before, during and after the game. I really can’t thank you all enough and hope you had a great experience.

I also want to congratulate the six players (Sam Simmonds, Henry Slade, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg), all of whom have been selected to join their countries for the up coming Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Hopefully, in the future, we will see this group joined by some of our young players who are starting to come through and have their sights set on being the next international Chiefs.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Castres back to Sandy Park. To their coaches, players, officials and supporters, we hope you enjoy your stay with us.

Enjoy the Game!

Good afternoon to you all and welcome to Sandy Park for today’s Heineken Champions Cup encounter with Castres Olympique.

EWERS TO DEPART CHIEFS AT END OF THE SEASON FOR NEW START WITH ULSTER

Exeter Chiefs confirmed this week that long-serving forward Dave Ewers will be leaving the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the current campaign to join United Rugby Championship side, Ulster Rugby.

The 32-year-old has been a stand-out figure for the Chiefs over many years, so far amassing 226 first-team games and 38 tries for the Devon club.

A product of the club’s highly successful Academy system, Ewers made his debut back in 2009 in a British & Irish Cup fixture away to Newport at Rodney Parade. Since then, he has helped the club to lift the LV= Cup in 2014, as well as two Premiership Rugby titles, as well a Heineken Champions Cup crown.

A destructive ball-carrier, as well as robust defender, it remains a mystery how Ewers has never been capped at Test level. A consistent performer on the big stage, he is the third confirmed departure at the end of the season, joining Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds, both of whom are joined French Top 14 outfit, Montpellier.

Commenting on his departure, Ewers said: “Obviously, I’m gutted to be leaving the Chiefs. It has been my life for so many years and I’ve been blessed to have made so many happy memories, as well as life-long friends.

“To sum up all those years in words is incredibly tough to do, but it’s been an unbelievable journey and one that I am very proud to have been part of. Like all good things, they have to come an end at some stage and now I have a new chapter in my career to look forward to with Ulster.

“Between now and then, I have a big job to do here at the Chiefs and I will be doing everything I can to ensure that my final months with Exeter are the best they can be.”

chiefs squad hunt for the big five

five in african adventure

Exeter Chiefs knew they had to tackle some African beasts when they faced the Vodacom Bulls in last Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld.

However, ahead of that much-anticipated Round Three encounter, Rob Baxter’s squad were able to get up close and personal with other imposing characters in the South African bush.

Taking time out from their intense training programme in Pretoria, the Chiefs squad headed 30 minutes north of the city to the hugely impressive Tshikwalo Game Lodge, which is situated within the Dinokeng Game Reserve.

Dinokeng is the first free-roaming Big 5 game reserve in Gauteng, offering an amazing African bush experience for

visitors. Organised by the club’s Head of Strength & Conditioning, Mark Twiggs, the Chiefs group rose early on Thursday morning to experience the three-hour drive, which covered part of the 52,000 acre reserve, which lies in the catchment area of two rivers that flow into the Olifants and Limpopo rivers and on to the Indian Ocean.

In addition to the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo and rhino), the reserve also plays home to cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, brown hyenas, wildebeests, kudu, impalas, antelopes, monkeys, hippos and crocodiles.

There are also more than 300 species of birds, including: ostrich, ospreys, martial eagles, guineafowl, herons and the endangered blue crane.

SIX NATIONS CALL FOR EXETER INTERNATIONALS

Six of Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs squad have this week been selected in their national squads for the upcoming Guiness Six Nations Championship.

Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade form part of Steve Borthwick’s 36-man England squad that will gather next week to begin their preparations for their Championship opener against Scotland on Saturday, February 4 (4:45pm).

Club-mate Luke Cowan-Dickie has been ruled out of selection due to an ankle injury, whilst Jack Nowell has not been selected.

Up against that Twickenham will be Scotland, who this week confirmed Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg in their squad for the tournament.

Hogg, who is currently on 96 caps for his country, is expected to hit the landmark of 100 Test caps during the Six Nations.

Meanwhile, returning Welsh head coach Warren Gatland has selected young Chiefs forwards Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza in his 37-strong squad.

It will be Jenkins’ first introduction into the tournament, having only made his Test debut last November against Georgia in Cardiff.

jenkins rewarded for his form with rpa monthly award

Dafydd Jenkins has become the second Exeter Chiefs player this season to win the Rugby Players’ Association MVP of the Month.

Team-mate Richard Capstick picked up the award in September and now Jenkins can add his name to the list, which also includes Sale’s Joe Carpenter (October) and Bath’s Ted Hill (November).

The 20-year-old beat off the challenge of Charlie Atkinson (Leicester Tigers), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Will Joseph (London Irish), Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons) and Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks) to land the award for the month of December.

It’s already been quite the season for Jenkins, who in November became the youngest-ever player to captain a side in the Gallagher Premiership, when he lead the Chiefs out against London Irish at Sandy Park.

A week later, the Bridgend-born star won his first Test cap for Wales, coming off the bench in their Autumn Nations Series encounter with Georgia.

Commenting on his award, Jenkins said: “Obviously, I’m very happy to have been named the Player of the Month for December. It’s been a big few months for me, especially making my debut for Wales and captaining the Chiefs for the first time.

“To be recognised for an award like this is obviously very pleasing, but I also have to thank the boys around me who have been class. Without them you are only half as good as a player, so they have to take some of the plaudits for this as well.”

SLADE HAS RED CARD DISMISSED BY PANEL

Exeter Chiefs centre, Henry Slade, has had the red card which was issued to him during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the Vodacom Bulls, dismissed following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.

Slade was sent off by the replacement referee, Thomas Charabas (France), in the 54th minute of the match at Loftus Versfeld for tackling the Vodacom Bulls full-back, Kurt-Lee Arendse, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland),

Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Yannick Jauzion (France) considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Slade, who did not accept the red card decision, and heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Richard Smith KC, from the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The committee decided that while Slade had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending off.

The red card decision was therefore dismissed and he is free to play.

T: HODGE, KATA, KIRSTEN, INNARD C: J SIMMONDS (2), SKINNER (2)

Bulls: Bulls: K-L Arendse; C Moodie, W Simelane (L Mapoe 75), H Vorster, DJ Kriel; C Smith (J Goosen 59), Z Burger, G Steenekamp, J Grobbelaar (B Du Plessis 17-27, 71), M Smith; R Vermaak (J Swanepoel 59), R Nortjé (capt); M van Staden (N Carr 69-75), N Carr (WJ Steenkamp 59), E Louw. Replacements: (not used): D Smith, F Klopper, E Papier.

Chiefs: J Hodge; J Nowell, H Slade (capt), S Kata (r O’Loughlin 65), O Woodburn; J Simmonds (H Skinner 58), S Maunder (J Maunder 58); S Sio (J Kenny 58), J Innard (J Yeandle 53-58, Innard 58), H Williams (J Iosefa-Scott 58); J Dunne (J Kirsten 53), D Jenkins; D Ewers (G Fisilau 53), C Tshiunza, S Simmonds. Red Card: Slade Referee: M Raynal. Attendance: 8,693

OFFICIAL

INNARD 25 19:45 A NEWCASTLE FALCONS L 24-21 3,126 HODGE JOHN O’BRIEN WHITTEN WOODBURN J SIMMONDS J MAUNDER HEPBURN YEANDLE 26 15:00 H BATH W 25-22 9,900 CORDERO FEYI-WABOSO WIMBUSH WYATT RELTON I JENKINS CAIRNS KENNY INNARD DECEEMBER 4 15:00 H GLOUCESTER W 50-33 8,972 JOHN FEYI-WABOSO O’BRIEN KATA CORDERO I JENKINS BECCONSALL KENNY INNARD 10 21:00 A CASTRES W 12-27 5,000 HOGG NOWELL SLADE O’LOUGHLIN WOODBURN J SIMMONDS S MAUNDER SIO YEANDLE 17 13:00 H BULLS W 44-14 11,518 HOGG NOWELL SLADE O’LOUGHLIN WOODBURN J SIMMONDS S MAUNDER

TSHIUNZA VERMEULEN FROST SIO SCHICKERLING DUNNE EWERS S MAUNDER BECCONSALL KATA

INNARD I-SCOTT BELL BAILEY TUIMA DAVIS FISILAU NOREY SOUTHWORTH JOHNSON TEAGUE GRONDONA JAMES CORNISH F NOWELL INNARD I-SCOTT DUNNE PEARSON TUIMA DAVIS FISILAU FROST SOUTHWORTH SCHICKERLING BAILEY GRONDONA CAIRNS HENDRICKSON WIMBUSH YEANDLE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS FROST HEPBURN I-SCOTT V HEERDEN GRONDONA BECCONSALL KATA HODGE C-DICKIE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS YEANDLE HEPBURN I-SCOTT V HEERDEN GRONDONA BECCONSALL KATA HODGE YEANDLE WILLIAMS D JENKINS GRAY EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS FROST I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING DUNNE GRONDONA CAIRNS HENDRICKSON HOGG YEANDLE WILLIAMS V HEERDEN GRAY GRONDONA TSHIUNZA FISILAU FROST I-SCOTT SCHICKERLING DUNNE PEARSON CAIRNS HENDRICKSON O’LOUGHLIN C-DICKIE WILLIAMS D JENKINS DUNNE EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS YEANDLE KENNY I-SCOTT V HEERDEN FISILAU J MAUNDER SKINNER O’LOUGHLIN INNARD WILLIAMS D JENKINS DUNNE EWERS TSHIUNZA S SIMMONDS YEANDLE KENNY I-SCOTT KIRSTEN FISILAU

YEANDLE STREET DUNNE GRAY KIRSTEN TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK INNARD KENNY SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN EWERS J MAUNDER O’LOUGHLIN CORDERO YEANDLE STREET DUNNE GRAY KIRSTEN TSHIUNZA CAPSTICK INNARD KENNY SCHICKERLING V HEERDEN EWERS J MAUNDER KATA CORDERO

HOGG

NOWELL

ROB BAXTER OBE DIRECTOR

RUGBYSHORTS

CURRY AND COWAN-DICKIE OUT OF SIX NATIONS OPENER

Back-row Tom Curry will miss England’s first two Six Nations games after suffering a hamstring tear in Sale’s recent Gallagher Premiership win over Harlequins.

The 24-year-old, who has 45 caps and captained England for the first time in last season’s Six Nations, will miss the matches against Scotland and Italy.

“It’s not as bad as we thought,” Sale boss Alex Sanderson said.”A 3c [hamstring tear] would have been six to eight weeks [out], and he would have been looking to play at the back end of the Six Nations. With it being a 2c and Tom being very diligent on his rehab, it means he could be back [to face] Wales.”

In addition to missing England’s first two games, Curry will also miss Sale’s Champions Cup ties against Toulouse and Ulster. England are already without Exeter hooker Luke CowanDickie after he suffered an ankle injury.

LOADER HAPPY TO PROLONG HIS STAY WITH LONDON IRISH

London Irish winger Ben Loader has extended his stay with the Gallagher Premiership club.

The 24-year-old, who came through the club’s academy, has scored 36 tries in 85 appearances.

“I love this club and everything it has done for me and my family, so staying with London Irish is the right decision,” said Loader. “The club is moving in the right trajectory - I want to embrace the challenges ahead.”

Loader has represented England at under-20 level and was called-up to England’s XV to face Barbarians in 2019.

London Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney said it was important to keep the winger.

“His contribution to the team, on and off the pitch, is growing season by season - with his best years ahead of him,” Kidney said.

“As well as being a fantastic player, Ben is a very popular figure both at Hazelwood and amongst our supporter base, so we know that securing his services long term will prove very popular.”

LEICESTER LAND COACH WILSON FOR REMAINDER OF THE SEASON

Former Glasgow Warriors coach Danny Wilson has joined Leicester Tigers as a part-time coaching consultant.

The 46-year-old was sacked by Glasgow last summer, but has already agreed a deal with Harlequins to become their line-out anc contact coach in 2023-24.

Before then, he will work with the Tigers for the rest of the current campaign.

“Danny is an experienced coach who will be a great addition to our team and club,” said interim Tigers head coach Richard Wigglesworth.

“His detail on forwards and line-out is something that we are pleased to add to our group for the remainder of the season.”

Former Tigers boss Steve Borthwick and defence coach Kevin Sinfield left the club last month to take charge of the England team.

The Tigers are currently seventh in the Gallaghr Premiership following last season’s title win.

JONES BACK ON THE TEST STAGE

AS HE TAKES OVER WALLABIES

Former England head coach Eddie Jones is back on the international stage after he was appointed Australia’s head coach, replacing the sacked Dave Rennie.

Jones, who previously coaches the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, has signed a five-year deal through to 2027.

The 62-year-old was dismissed by England in December after seven years in the role. He will start with Australia at the end of January with his new contract covering two Rugby World Cups and the British & Irish Lions tour in 2025.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup,” said Jones. “It is going to be an immense periof for Australian rugby - as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years.

Rennie, 59, took over from Michael Cheika as Australia head coach in 2020.

ODENDAAL’S DELIGHT AFTER MAKING PREMIERSHIP RETURN

Northampton Saints have signed South African centre Burger Odendaal for the 2023-24 season.

The 29-year-old former Bulls skipper joined Wasps ahead of the current campaign but moved to Japanese rugby when they went into administration.

“The last couple of months have been a crazy time for my family and I,” he said. “We were just getting used to life in the UK when everything happened with Wasps, and the Premiership from what I experienced so far is a competition filled with great teams, so I’m really looking forward to returning and testing myself in English rugby once again.”

NIGEL WALROND

What is it with Exeter Chiefs and French referees?

Their history in Europe is littered with controversial decisions by officials from across the Channel.

The failure to red card Cian Healy in Dublin; too many from Romain Poite to mention; one or two others that come to mind; and now Thomas Charabas’ sending off of Henry Slade in Pretoria.

Now, it can’t be easy suddenly coming from running the line to refereeing a big European Champions Cup game. Charabas found himself plunged into the spotlight when his fellow countryman, the usually impressive Mathieu Raynal, pulled a hamstring.

But what annoys me with all the incidents mentioned above is that they were all made after referring the matter to the TV match official.

Anyone can make a mistake watching something once in the heat of the moment, but how can the referee persist with that error when the video evidence does not back up what they are saying?

I just couldn’t believe what was coming out of the mouth of Charabas when he was talking to his TMO to justify issuing Slade with a red card.

Direct contact to the head, high degree of danger, no mitigation…. it was unbelievable.

The pictures clearly showed that Slade made contact with Kurt-Lee Arendse’s shoulder first and then bounced up to his neck area, yet Charabas seemed to be watching something completely different!

It came as absolutely no surprise when disciplinary chiefs rescinded Henry’s red card on Tuesday night, but it should never have got that far in the first place.

I don’t think it made any difference to the final outcome as the Chiefs were trailing 32-14 when Henry departed, but top-flight club rugby deserves top-flight officiating.

You have got to take your hat off to the Chiefs, who fought back so well in the face of adversity and injustice to get two more tries and come home with a bonus point.

I think most Chiefs’ fans would have taken that outcome if it was offered to them before the game, given the fact the Bulls’ line-up was much stronger than the one Exeter faced at Sandy Park, and also the Chiefs having to contend with the heat and playing the match at such a high altitude.They came closer than most UK sides have in the past to lowering the Bulls’ colours on their own patch at Loftus Versfeld.

Exeter have already qualified for the round of 16, but a bonus-point win this evening against Castres should see them finish in the top four in Pool A and secure them a home tie.

In preparation for this game, I watched Castres’ match with Edinburgh on Sunday, and it proved to be a very enjoyable couple of hours’ entertainment, with the Scots eventually coming through a ding-dong battle 34-21 winners.

Writing this two days before the teams were announced, it remains to be seen how many of the Castres side on show at the Stade PierreFabre have made the journey over to Devon, but given the fact their European dream is over for another season, it could be a much-changed lineup running out today.

o’loughlin says chiefs can rule europe once again

IRISHMAN TARGETS CHAMPIONS CUP PUSH

No stranger to the pressures of the Heineken Champions Cup, Rory O’Loughlin believes Exeter Chiefs have what it takes to once again be crowned ‘Kings of Europe’.

A former winner of the competition himself with Leinster Rugby, the 28-year-old has impressed many since making the move across the Irish Sea last summer after a six-year stint with the Dublin-based giants.

Equally at home in the centre or the wing, O’Loughlin has been a virtual ever-present for the Chiefs so far this season, helping his new club to reach the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition.

The job, however, is far from complete and victory over visiting Castres Olympique today will ensure that the Devonians will have home advantage when the competition resumes again in early April.

Victory over the French side in Round One was followed up a week later by another maximum haul against the Bulls at Sandy Park in Round Two. Last week, the South African outfit gained their revenge in the heat and altitude of Loftus Versfeld, but the losing bonus point accrued in the final minute of that game ensured Exeter’s escapades to Africa for the first time proved sufficient enough for their advancement into the latter stages.

“We’re looking forward to being back at Sandy Park this weekend,” said the Irishman this week. “Everyone within the camp knows the importance of the game, especially getting the win and the points which will ensure us of home advantage in the last 16. Right now, it’s in our hands, we know what we have to do. If we can replicate the performance we put in against Castres at their place then, hopefully, we should be able to make it count.”

Although pointless from their three European ties so far, O’Loughlin refuses to believe the Frenchmen will be any kind of pushovers. If anything, he believes that statistic makes them all the more dangerous.

“The fact they have nothing to lose coming here is a dangerous situation for sure. That said, when we won over there, that was probably our most convincing and complete performance of the year. That showed what we need to do and now we have to replicate it this weekend.”

With home advantage and a buoyant Chiefs crowd behind them, O’Loughlin hopes he and his team-mates can kick on further in 2023, particularly with the club well poised in all three competitions.

“If you look at the squad we have, it’s full of internationals, top quality players, aoo of whom have massive experience of playing in the Premiership and in Europe,” he said. “When it comes down to the big, tight games, we have the players who have been there before.

“It’s no different to when I was at Leinster, when the big games come along, the big players really step up. I’ve no doubt we can go far in all the competitions, we just have to work hard, play smart and believe in one another.”

And as for life in Devon itself, O’Loughlin couldn’t be happier, adding: “I’ve loved the experience so far. Obviously, it was my first taste of the Premiership, but I do love the week on week nature of it all. Every week it’s a battle and things can change so quickly. The swings and roundabouts of it all are a bit nuts at times, but it makes it what it is.”

TOP POINTS SCORERS

Rob

Paddy

Owen

Joe

Freddie

Tomasso

Adam

Matteo

TOP TRY SCORERS

Matteo

Ollie

Cadan

TOP METRES MADE

Matteo

Cadan

WHO WE ARE

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation is a charity that exists with the sole aim of helping other charities.

All of the money we raise is donated to worthy causes in and around the city with a focus on supporting ‘tangible’ investments. These have included funding building and renovation works, the installation of play equipment, and assistance with buying a large number of vehicles, ranging from minibuses to a boat for the Topsham Sea Scout Group.

Founded by club Chairman Tony Rowe OBE, the team of trustees is drawn from the Chiefs board of directors and the business community.

As well as deciding on how the charity’s money is shared, the trustees organise a number of fundraising events each year including the prestigious Devon Sports Awards, as well as pre-season and end of season gala dinners.

All charities in the greater Exeter area are able to apply for funds, either from an annual designated pot of money, or one-off donations (see more below).

The amounts awarded by the trustees range from a few hundred pounds, to a record £50,000 which was matched by the Exeter Summer Property Ball Committee and presented to Hospiscare to pay for the vital refurbishment of a 12-bed ward at Searle House in Exeter.

To date the Foundation has raised £2m.

OUR MISSION

“We are a fundraising organisation committed to improving the prosperity of the communities we serve by making donations that make people’s lives better.”

HOW THE CHARITY WORKS

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation raises funds in two ways:

1) Designated funds: This is the money generated on Exeter Chiefs match days through bucket donations and car parking. Each season we ‘adopt’ 20 charities who help to collect spare change and notes. At the end of the fundraising year, the cash is shared with our designated charities at a celebratory dinner. The list of charities is reviewed by the trustees annually.

2) Undesignated funds: These are funds that are generated by friends and supporters of the charity or any non-match related events organised by the Foundation. This money goes into a separate pot that any charity or organisation can apply for, at any time.

In January 2019, the Foundation received a record £350,000 non-designated donation following the fine imposed on Saracens after being found guilty of breaching the league’s stringent salary cap regulations. The Chiefs board of directors voted unanimously to hand over the club’s share of money.

DESIGNATED CHARITIES

CHARITIES SET TO BENEFIT FROM EXETER CHIEFS FOUNDATION THIS SEASON

ARE CONFIRMED

Charities across Exeter and its surrounding area are set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of the Exeter Chiefs Foundation during the course of the 2022/23 season.

Established back in 2011 by the Exeter Chiefs and a selected group of local businessmen to help promote the local community and the vision of people who work there, the Exeter Chiefs Foundation has helped to not only transform the lives of many local people in need, but has helped to deliver significant investment to charities and organisations in need.

With over £2.5 million raised since its inception, the Exeter Foundation has helped to directly fund over 150 charities and organisations, including the designated charities selected each year and several other projects and schemes.

Last season close to £200,000 was raised and distributed by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation, helping to change lives and improve standards and facilities for so many different people.

During the 2022/23 season, a total of 32 charities – Age UK Exeter, Balloons, Brain Tumour Support, Children’s Hospice South West, Community Equality Disability Action, Dartmoor Search & Rescue, Devon Air

Ambulance, Devon Rape and Sexual Abuse Services, Dream-A-Way, Exeter & East Devon Motor Neurone Disease Association, Exeter Athletic RFC, Exeter Community Initiatives, Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, Exeter Chiefs DSA, Exeter Food Action, Exeter Leukemia Fund, Exeter Lions Club, Force Cancer Charity, Freedomwheelers, Its In The Bag Cancer Support, Jay’s Aim, Living Options Devon, RAMM, RD&E NHS Trust, Royal Marines Charity, See The Future, South West MS Centre, Stanley Beau Foundation, Vranch House, Westcountry Hawks Wheelchair Rugby, Wooden Spoon Devon and Yoga for the Front Line – will all benefit from fundraising events and dinners across the year, together with collections at all Sandy Park match-days. Exeter Foundation chairman, Tony Rowe OBE, said: “Every year we are seeing the Foundation grow in stature. The work it has done for all the charities since we launched it all those years has been simply fantastic.

“We know from speaking to all the charities involved that the funds we raise really do make a difference in so many ways.”

WOMEN’S FIXTURES, RESULTS & STATS

SEPT 17 15:00 A DMP SHARKS W 0-73 300 BUCHANAN WOODMAN McGILLIVRAY McGOVERNE DERERA ROBINSON BRADLEY 24 15:00 H WORCESTER WARRIORS L 21-23 4,112 BUCHANAN WOODMAN McGILLIVRAY McGOVERNE DERERA ROBINSON BRADLEY OCT 15 14:00 A GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY W 20-24 350 DOIDGE WOODMAN LANGFORD McGILLIVRAY BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON 22 15:00 H HARLEQUINS W 19-11 1,851 DOIDGE BUCHANAN LANGFORD McGILLIVRAY DERERA McGOVERNE BRADLEY NOV 19 15:00 H GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY L 17-25 1,156 DOIDGE OUNSLEY PREECE LANGFORD BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON 26 12:00 A DMP SHARKS W 0-95 300 DOIDGE OUNSLEY PREECE CANTORNA BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON DEC 3 15:00 H WORCESTER WARRIORS W 62-18 623 DOIDGE WOODMAN ZACKARY CANTORNA BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON 10 12:30

LOUGHBOROUGH W 5-54 350 DOIDGE MACDONALD ZACKARY CANTORNA BUCHANAN McGOVERNE ROBINSON 17 14:30 H HARLEQUINS W 27-0 1,045 DOIDGE MACDONALD ZACKARY CANTORNA SINCLAIR McGOVERNE ROBINSON

OUNSLEY McGILLIVRAY

MACDONALD McGOVERNE ROBINSON

ROBERTS MOLONEY GRIMES FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE HANLON ORCHARD HARTLEY McMAHON LANGFORD PREECE

ROBERTS MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY WILLETT JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE GRIMES HAYES McMAHON LANGFORD PREECE DOIDGE

ROBINSON MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON ALLEN NIELSON ROBERTS GRIMES ORCHARD V-D VELDEN BRADLEY DERERA GOWER MIDDLEBROOKE MOLONEY HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES McMAHON ALLEN NIELSON MUZAMBE GRIMES V-D VELDEN ORCHARD ROBINSON GOWER WALKER

ROBINSON MIDDLEBROOKE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN V-D VELDEN MOLONEY MUZAMBE GRIMES ORCHARD FLEMING McDONALD CANTORNA WOODMAN

ROBINSON MUZAMBE NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY FLEMING JEFFERIES LEITCH ALLEN MOLONEY TURANI JACOBY V-D VELDEN JOHNSON McDONALD WILKINS WOODMAN

ROBINSON TURANI NIELSON HANLON FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN V-D VELDEN MOLONEY MUZAMBE JACOBY FLEMING JOHNSON BRADLEY WILKINS PREECE

ROBINSON ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI JACOBY FLEMING McMAHON BRADLEY WILKINS SINCLAIR

ROBINSON ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI JACOBY FLEMING McMAHON BRADLEY WILKINS CRAMER

ROBINSON ROGERS TUTTOSI MENIN FRYDAY FLEMING JEFFERIES JOHNSON ZACKARY NIELSON TURANI HANLON LEONARD LEITCH BRADLEY WILKINS CRAMER

ROBINSON ROGERS MOLONEY MENIN FRYDAY LEITCH JEFFERIES ALLEN JOHNSON TUTTOSI TURANI JACOBY V-D VELDEN McMAHON BRADLEY WILKINS McGILLIVRAY

SUSIE APPLEBY HEAD COACH STEVE SALVIN ASSISTANT COACH

CROUCH, BIND, SET Proudly Supporting Exeter Chiefs

KATE ZACKARY

PROUD PARTNERS OF

bristolstreet.co.uk

Exeter Van Centre

exeter’s award-winning hitz programme

Calling all people aged 16+ - our award-winning education and employability HITZ programme is recruiting for new students this month.

For anyone looking to be part of a fantastic programme, which offers valuable qualifications, exciting enrichment activities and gives you an

opportunity to be more active, then the HITZ programme could be the perfect fit for you!

HITZ uses rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to get young people not in education, training or employment back into education, training, apprenticeships and/or employment - and is

programme recruiting for new students

delivered nationally by English Rugby’s 12 professional rugby clubs.

Participants regularly report an increase in resilience, self-confidence and aspiration as a result of their involvement - and over 70% go on to achieve a positive progression into further education, training or employment.

HITZ is funded nationally by the Wooden Spoon Charity and locally by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation.

If you are interested in joining our programme, we are running taster days throughout January.

For more information, please contact: garethwilliams@exeterchiefs.co.uk

CHEERS TO ALL FANS