Exeter Chiefs have endured a rather dramatic week Pumped 79-17 by West Country rivals Gloucester last Sunday a defeat which plunged the club into turmoil head coach Rob Hunter and backs coach Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review of both the game and the 2024/25 season as a whole Rob Baxter was also handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the campaign issued a damning statement detailing the ‘clear disconnect’ between the coaching staff and playing group That departure now leaves Exeter with a head coach void ahead of the 2025/26 season here are some of the names who could be in the mix for the head coach role at Sandy Park Former Racing 92 boss Stuart Lancaster and former Munster head coach Graham Rowntree will likely be at the very top of Rowe’s shopping list in their quest for a new top dog Both men boast exceptional coaching pedigrees with Lancaster understood to have been the mastermind behind the Leinster juggernaut during his stint there and Rowntree recently took Munster to the URC title against the odds both men would know what it takes to turn a team around quickly which is the sort of thing Exeter need right now Despite the sour ending to his England spell Lancaster had turned the national side around from the carnage of the 2011 World Cup and into consistent Six Nations title chasers He also helped blood in the likes of Owen Farrell Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie amongst others which again could do wonders for the young Chiefs group at the moment Rowntree took over as Munster boss following a disappointing 2021/22 season where they finished sixth overall but were below both Leinster and Ulster out of the Irish sides they also finished top of the table at the end of the regular season before losing to eventual champions Glasgow Warriors But that rapid transformation under him will have captured Rowe’s attention Suspended Exeter Chiefs boss departs club after ‘clear disconnect’ the former Leicester Tigers icon is also understood to be in contention for the vacant head coach posting at Mattioli Woods Welford Road too with Michael Cheika leaving at the end of the season but Nick Easter is certainly in the discussion for Exeter head coach for next season The former Harlequins icon enjoyed a decent spell at Worcester Warriors as an assistant before properly cutting his teeth with Chinnor in National One He guided the club to safety in his first season in charge and later helped them earn promotion to the Championship He has also gained more valuable experience at Test level as he currently acts as the forwards coach for the USA Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter entrusted to fix ‘clear disconnect’ as CEO issues damning statement Easter’s rise through the coaching ranks isn’t too dissimilar to Baxter’s either and with the experience of the long-standing director of rugby His appointment would also be a more long-term one given he is fairly fresh into his coaching career but that again seems to fit the bill of what Exeter want right now It could be a master stroke from the Devonians Leon MacDonald and former Chiefs player Geoff Parling could also be catching the eye of the Chiefs’ higher-ups MacDonald was attracting the interest of Leicester Tigers but reports suggest he has turned them down to take up an offer in Japan; however if the Chiefs act quickly and present a good offer The former All Black again would bring a wealth of experience to the role serving as an assistant under Scott Robertson for the national side and previously worked as an assistant for the Crusaders and later as Blues head coach it’s a bit of a stretch considering he is set to take a role in Japan considering he is Joe Schmidt’s right-hand man at the Wallabies but with the former Ireland boss heading for pastures new The former lock already has a high standing among the Chiefs faithful after an excellent playing career in Devon and he is quickly gaining a reputation as a great coach too A head coach role at Test level is likely in his future too so this could give him the exposure to life at the top This would be a HUGE kick in the teeth for the Tigers but he is available for next season after all He would be a brilliant appointment for the Devonians but he is only leaving the East Midlands to be with his family so another Premiership role seems highly unlikely Another option for the Chiefs head coach role could be Baxter to just continue on for the foreseeable future Baxter has an impressive record at the club but he again commands high standards from his group which saw a dramatic upturn in form and boosted the Chiefs to a Champions Cup semi-final run in the process and if he again sees a rapid rise in fortunes ,he could just hold onto the duties next season too They need to get some form of succession plan in place and after all the drama of the current season this feels like the perfect time to get that sorted out READ MORE: Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended on Monday pending a formal review Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review into the 2024/25 season on Monday but will the return of Rob Baxter herald a new dawn Social media was divided in its reaction to Monday’s development that Exeter owner Tony Rowe has suspended coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher The Sunday TimesExeter Chiefs appear to be falling to pieces The magnificent run which took them from local club fixtures to triumph in the Gallagher Premiership and to the status of European champions makes them the greatest advertisement for the principle of promotion that top-flight rugby ever had But still, no one expected what happened last weekend at Kingsholm. For a few minutes in the final quarter of their match against Gloucester Exeter looked as if they were on the verge of conceding three figures Gloucester did not score at all in the last ten minutes of play and so the home team had to settle for a savaging 79–17 win Rob Hunter has departed the club by mutual agreement We extend our sincere thanks to Rob for his substantial and valued contribution over many years His commitment and professionalism have played an important role in the club’s journey Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Rowe CBE said: "On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club I would like to express our gratitude to Rob for his dedication and the impact he has had during his time with us We wish him every success in his future endeavours." Director of Rugby Rob Baxter added: "Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons I want to personally thank him for his hard work and the positive influence he has had on the squad "Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish." Copyright Exeter Rugby Club | Website developed by Webselect | Telephone systems, data networks, data centre services, video conferencing supplied by Focus Group To receive a copy of the Exeter Chiefs Newsletter You will then receive an email to confirm that you wish to receive it You can unsubscribe at any time simply by following the link at the bottom of the email 'He is laying down the law!' - Exeter CEO Rowe heads into dressing room after humbling loss Highlights: Gloucester score 13 TRIES in record-breaking win over Exeter AdvertisementHow was your experience today so that's an achievement that won't be missed by us but we know we've got three more games to keep building on that." Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible Exeter Chiefs have confirmed the sacking of head coach Rob Hunter following their record Gallagher Premiership loss to Gloucester RugbyPass exclusively revealed on Monday that Hunter had been put on gardening leave that afternoon and the club have now confirmed his exit four days later A statement reads: “Exeter Rugby Club can confirm that “We extend our sincere thanks to Rob for his substantial and valued contribution over many years His commitment and professionalism have played an important role in the club’s journey.” Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Rowe CBE said: “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Director of Rugby Rob Baxter added: “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons “Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish.” Watch USA Eagles Women v Canada Women live and for FREE on the RugbyPass app Join free and tell us what you really think Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible Is the Queensland boss the right man to lead Australia forward And will Joe Schmidt be tempted to stick around for Rugby World Cup 2027 Northampton Saints found a way of beating the fabled Jacques Nienaber blitz and inflicting another 'horrific' Champions Cup loss on the Leinster giants So more incompetent or negligent prep rather than arrogance then interesting perspective and definitely worth considering Yeah Bath have some CC growth to do but JVG is a smart operator you only need to look at the meteoric transformation he’s taken them through after so many years and then look forward to his recruits for next year… True but no margin more than 5 points even with Ireland at peak performance so Aussie does undertsand what it needs to do on the field Nobody will want to paly the Blues in the playoffs esp if they get some injured players back DW Usually he’s part of a two-man zone with one of the wings or the FB Both cover one half of field v the kicking game I think it’s one reason why Manie was dropped Put him a backfield with Willie or similar and they can be beat So take the three but if you can see it I can see it and every man Jack and his dog can see it…?! It looked weak at the end of the NH game as if they hadn’t prepared for that scenario even though it has occurred many times v LAR over the past few years It was an odd pick RW👍 Or alternatively Leinster saw a team they had beaten last year had won well against two teams with a similar attacking style and were supremely over confident in their luxury new recruits? if Saints had gone for a 7-1 split on the bench!! Losing doesn’t mean choking Ireland won 17 matches in a row beating all the top 5 nations twice including a pressure filled NZ series win You are basing Ireland’s choking tag one quarter final loss (a match you clearly didn’t see) Leinster over performed to bring Toulouse to extra time last year Certainly they should have won one of the finals against LaRochelle but many factors come into play there including the difficulty of URC teams winning tight matches against Top14 opposition and opposition from very competitive leagues Again you are being disrespecful and not a little stupid Perhaps you should reveal your own nation before throwing stones at mine You look at the games you have had difficulties in your prep If you just oppo weaknesses and gloss over the problems they may set you are on the road to hell They are a very solid side but I don’t see them in the European top echelon yet It’s a far better combo because Jordie can step in an take pressure off Sam Robbie does not really have either the passing of kicking game to do it properly now The leadership did not look that grand in the final minutes either One issue that has been highlighted is that the wrapping in cotton wool of palyers on the tour of SA prior to QFs and SFs has never really worked the battle-hardening combat of week to week footy It can be unpleasant work but you have to be ready to see your own weaknesses against strong opposition before knockout games [Scarlets was already a warning shot] and Leinster seemed to be ill-prepared for what was coming their way last Saturday From what I’ve heard Joe may be willing to return and he was filthy that the ABs didn’t win it in 23 I’d like to support Kiss but his record as head coach and the circumstances of his appointment make it difficult I very much doubt he was a unanimous choice by the 4-man panel For me Kiss is not the man for 2027 yet he has the top job but he will bring continuity and wont tear up the gameplan so at least they wont be starting from scratch with a new coach I reckon you have highlighted the main positive Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> OJ will be happy although we never see him around here on the rare occasions he is Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> True tackle completion % is one of the most useless single stats in rugby M The main concern is that Reds are still very much a work in progress and I’m surprised the support for Les as WB head man has been so firm I can see it working if Joe becomes involved again in 2027 but otherwise a huge gamble The most well-known cryptocurrency in the world has become extremely popular in recent years More people and companies are adopting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a form of investment due to their anarchic framework and high return potential the emergence of Bitcoin has also given rise to a number of security issues resulting in instances of lost or unreachable Bitcoins there is an enormous increase in demand for expert 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https://cyberspacehackpro0.wixsite.com/cyberspacehackpro @NB There was a lot that went wrong for Leinster But how much do you think the lack of competitive matches meant vulnerabilities and weaknesses were not exposed and addressed in previous matches A good coaching team like Northampton’s then had a lot to work with giving Leinster a lot of problems to fix all at once on the day French teams and indeed English teams who are CC contenders are getting weekly matches where weaknesses are being probed and end game tactics are been often tested in the fire I know Leinster can mitigate some of this in training but hard matches create more hardened and rounded teams Perhaps Leinster need to start looking at playing their best teams away in SA (6N release permitting) and the main team playing the match (or most of it) preceding the big matches 50-60 mins against Scarlets would have helped that team a lot Yes England seem on the rise Speaking of Barrett his brothers team the Blues seem to have hit some form as expected late in the season Scott-Young and Kemeny are all benefiting from their time at saints Would like to see them return as better players as most do… Under Joe S he has a 100% record against England;) Versus Connacht in the Aviva they were 12 up (3 tries) with 10 to go against a Cannacht team playing very well They had an easy three to secure the win but kicked for corner Connacht repelled the attack and Leinster got carded after a Connacht turnover Connacht went up the pitch and scored and made it a 5 point match Leinster then won another (harder but kickable) penalty Another confab started before Barrett went up and told Byrne to kick for goal The onfield decision making seems to have fallen between two stools This surely should have been addressed before now if they are covering all angles Former Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Hunter has today officially left the club by mutual consent After serving under both Rob Baxter and Ali Hepher as forwards coach Hunter was named Chiefs head coach in March Commenting on the news, Exeter chairman and CEO said: “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club Director of rugby, Rob Baxter added: “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ The former London Scottish and Northampton Saints player joined Baxter’s coaching ticket in 2013 after leaving his role with the England U20s and played a key role in their rise to becoming English and European champions Hunter’s exit comes amid a damning statement from Rowe with the long-standing chairman detailing a breakdown of trust between the players and coaching staff “There has been a clear disconnect between the playing squad and the coaching staff and it is something we simply cannot allow to continue,” Rowe said in a statement on Wednesday “Exeter Rugby Club is built on togetherness “This is about more than just responding to results,” Rowe added “It’s about re-establishing who we are and where we’re going and each time we’ve come back stronger.” There has been no official statement regarding the future of fellow suspended coach Hepher was relieved of head coach duties to make for Hunter in March with the former England Saxons boss lined up to move into the club’s academy staff at the end of the season READ MORE: England hopeful sees Test hopes shattered ahead of Americas tour Planet Rugby assesses the key contenders to take over as Exeter Chiefs' new head coach. Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review into the 2024/25 season on Monday. Exeter Chiefs are in turmoil, but will the return of Rob Baxter herald a new dawn? Social media was divided in its reaction to Monday’s development that Exeter owner Tony Rowe has suspended coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher. The Stags had a let-off inside the first 30 seconds as Reece Cole turned a low Ilmari Niskanen cross against the outside of the right post the hosts then took the lead after 25 minutes Louis Reed's 22-yard free-kick hit the underside of the bar and Stephen McLaughlin was on hand to head home from close range as it bounced back up Mansfield's second also came from close range when Brighton loanee Caylan Vickers beat his man cut into the box and teed up a tap-in for former United States international Dom Dwyer Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth then had to turn over a powerful Vickers shot before the break to deny the Stags a third Six minutes into an improved second half for the visitors Niskanen raced on to a Cole through ball and rounded Scott Flinders the Stags wrapped up the win after 83 minutes as Reed's cutting pass sent Ben Waine clear to slot home Cole rattled a Mansfield post a minute later as City's afternoon ended in frustration while Jordan Rhodes hit the Exeter upright on the break with the last kick of the match To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Yogane Match OfficialsReferee: William DavisAssistant Referee 1: Sam WessonAssistant Referee 2: Declan FordFourth Official: Karl BuckleyMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightMansfield Town have lost four of their last six league games against Exeter City (W1 D1) failing to score in three of those matches Exeter City have lost just one of their last 12 away Football League games against Mansfield Town (W7 D4) failing to score in just one match during that time Mansfield are unbeaten across their last four final games of a Football League campaign (W2 D2) Exeter have netted just 19 goals in total across their 22 away league games this season (W7 D5 L10) their fewest on the road in a Football League campaign since 2011-12 (15) Jordan Rhodes (Mansfield Town) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box Assisted by Ben Waine following a fast break Ed Francis (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick Ronnie Kokkinos (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Andrew Oluwabori (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Stephen McLaughlin (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half Ilmari Niskanen (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked Jack Fitzwater (Exeter City) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked Reece Cole (Exeter City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box Ben Waine (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner Assisted by Louis Reed with a through ball following a fast break Bowls big weekend to get new people on the greens  Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Bowls’ Big Weekend is returning for its fifth year and is set to be the biggest yet with a record-breaking 800+ clubs signed up to take part the annual national event is designed to introduce more people to the sport of bowls with clubs nationwide opening their doors for the bank holiday weekend offering free taster sessions available to all ages and abilities The weekend creates a welcoming atmosphere for returning players or those totally new to the game Bowls’ Big Weekend is organised by Bowls England and is aiming to introduce 20,000 new people to the sport this year Bowls’ Big Weekend has become a staple event in the bowls’ calendar with 129 of the clubs having signed up every year so far Since the introduction of Bowls’ Big Weekend more than 60,000 people have registered with their local clubs to take part Bowls is an accessible sport that offers a place of community particularly for those with low mobility to maintain a level of physical activity Cancer Research UK are collaborating with the event this year to help support the game that has been a lifeline for many going through cancer treatment 4x Commonwealth Medallist and Bowls England Board Member said: “Bowls has so much to offer as a sport it really is something that everyone can get involved in Bowls’ Big Weekend is always a brilliant weekend to showcase what our sport had to offer.  “People should definitely get down to their local clubs and give bowls a go we might uncover some future talent for the England squad.”  To find your nearest club and sign up, visit: https://www.bowlsbigweekend.com/find-a-club/ " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Controlled burning is one method of managing gorse on Dartmoor This fire was unplanned and is under investigation (Image: Herbythyme/Wikimedia Commons) Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm (Image: ENT auditorium © Ralph Whitehead) Exeter Northcott Theatre is calling on local performers to join the cast of its next community production - and no previous acting experience is required The theatre is forming a voluntary community ensemble to appear in a new stage adaptation based on Exe Men: The Extraordinary Rise of the Exeter Chiefs by journalist Robert Kitson The project is part of the theatre’s Made by Exeter Northcott programme and will be directed by Creative Director Martin Berry The full production will be announced soon but the creative team has confirmed it will bring together theatre and rugby in a unique way.  The production follows the success of The Commotion Time in 2024 which brought together 40 local performers and a community choir Auditions are open to anyone aged 18 or over on 1 July 2025 The ensemble will share the stage with a professional cast during performances from 6 to 20 October 2025 at Exeter Northcott Theatre Evening shows and weekend matinees are planned and applicants must be fully available during the production period Rehearsals will take place on Thursday evenings from July through October Workshop-style auditions will be held at Exeter Northcott and Barnfield Theatres on the following dates: Applicants only need to attend one audition slot and are asked to register online by 9am on Monday 19 May. Full details and the registration form are available via the Northcott’s Work With Us page If you’ve ever fancied giving theatre a go this might just be the excuse you’ve been waiting for Long-serving coach departs Sandy Park in wake of catastrophic 79-17 loss to Gloucester EXETER Chiefs have axed long-serving coach Rob Hunter in the wake of their catastrophic 79-17 loss to Gloucester - the worst defeat in the club’s Premiership Rugby history and a brutal low in an already faltering season. Hunter’s 13-year stint at Sandy Park ended with the club announcing his departure by “mutual consent” on Friday. However, behind the polite phrasing lies a clear message: standards have slipped, and heads are rolling. The loss to Gloucester wasn’t just a defeat - it was a humiliation. Eleven tries conceded, a defence in shambles, and a team that looked unrecognisable from the title-winning juggernaut of just a few seasons ago. The fallout was swift. Hunter and fellow coach Ali Hepher were both suspended while the club launched a full internal review. Hunter is now the first casualty. In a statement released by the club, it read: “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club, I would like to express our gratitude to Rob for his dedication and the impact he has had during his time with us. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Director of Rugby Rob Baxter added: “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons. I want to personally thank him for his hard work, loyalty, and the positive influence he has had on the squad. “Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much, we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish.” Hunter is the second coach to depart this season, Omar Mouniemne left in similar circumstances back in October. As for the future for Hepher at Sandy Park, that remains unknown at this stage. In another blow for the Devonians, the club have confirmed that Greg Fisilau (shoulder), Joe Hawkins (ankle), Ben Hammersley (knee) and Max Norey (shoulder) will all miss the remainder of the season. The Chiefs are next in action this Sunday when they play host to Northampton Saints, who at the weekend booked their place in the final of the Investec Champions Cup with victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin Comments Tel: 01579 342174[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Patrick enjoys a pint of Guinness with owner Kirk Petrakis A free family ticket to the Devon County Show is being offered in a new competition launched by Devon County Council ahead of this year’s event which runs from 15 to 17 May at Westpoint Arena near Exeter offers entry for up to five people to one of the most popular fixtures in the Devon events calendar participants need to submit their name and email address online and agree to receive the council’s weekly ‘Connect Me’ newsletter The Devon County Show regularly attracts thousands of visitors with its mix of agriculture This year’s programme includes a brand-new Family Fun Zone and a full schedule of live music from Devon’s young performers Devon County Council will have several stands at the show including their main base on Road 8 (Stand 225) where visitors can learn about council services including fostering  Their Farmwise team will return with animals and activities on Road 9 while the Performance and Partnerships team will be showcasing skills support and business programmes on Avenue R (Stand 453) One of the new features for 2025 is the Family Fun Zone – designed to keep children engaged with activities ranging from a climbing wall and circus skills to craft sessions and sports challenges Patrick the Shetland Pony – known locally as the ‘Mayor of Cockington’ – will make a special appearance on Saturday The winner of the competition will be contacted by email on Friday 9 May and will receive their digital ticket shortly afterwards and full terms and conditions are available on the council’s website The Devon County Show takes place from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May 2025 Planners have given their unanimous backing to a scheme to repair and restore a key piece of Exeter’s maritime history The city council owns the building in The Strand at Topsham which houses the town’s popular museum which is currently closed and shrouded in scaffolding It had to apply to itself for listed building consent to go ahead with repairs to the 17th century merchant’s house The Society for the Protection on Ancient Buildings (SPAB) had been the only objector to the proposal saying windows should be repaired rather than replaced and making other observations about how floor joists and roof trusses should be handled a meeting of the city council’s planning committee heard that the work was outside the society’s brief There will be roof and floor repairs along with work to fix external masonry and walls A parapet will be rebuilt and 20th century windows in a sail loft will be replaced The aim is to repair failing structural elements and replace inappropriate modern additions conserving the building’s ‘important historic fabric’ Topsham Labour councillor Gemma Rolstone said: “If we don’t do something here we are going to exacerbate the problems in this beautiful building that was gifted to the people of Topsham as a museum “Listed buildings need lots of care and attention Hopefully we can unpick some of the damage that was previously done and do a sensitive restoration of this very beautiful building.” https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick Catch up on all the latest business news in Limerick and County Limerick Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick Mansfield boss Nigel Clough believes staying in League One has been a bigger achievement than gaining promotion 12 months ago after the Stags ended the campaign with a 3-0 home win over Exeter Reece Cole hit the post for the visitors inside 30 seconds and Mansfield responded to the let-off with goals from Stephen McLaughlin “This week has been a brilliant end to the season with two home games “It sends everyone into the summer in good spirits with a smile on their faces which is very important “After a rough three or four months I think we deserve these two wins It was a very even game and I think we have had more luck in the last two games than we’ve had in the previous 20 “I think the opposition have hit the woodwork four times in the two games and had good opportunities We needed some of these breaks earlier in the season after Christmas “It has been a bigger achievement than promotion 12 months ago to stay in this league And to get 54 points at this level with the problems we have had I think it is a much better achievement than 12 months ago.” Exeter hit the woodwork again through Cole as the clock ticked down and manager Gary Caldwell admitted it was a frustrating watch “That game probably summed up our season,” he said couldn’t score and gave away two really bad goals “If we’d have scored at 2-0 it would have been game on Instead we shot ourselves in the foot late on as Mansfield made it three “We are bottom of the league for shots on target and that has to improve next season “It was a really disappointing end to the season but it doesn’t take away from the season as a whole where we have really had to dig in as a football club from January to get the points on the board and guarantee a fourth season in League One “But the players have to improve and get better and it’s my responsibility as the manager to force that on players and make it happen next year “If the players want to improve and work hard I will look forward to seeing them for next season.” The former Desmond Arms complex in Catherine Street is being marketed as The Printworks reflecting a time when this newspaper was printed in the area | PICTURE: Adrian Butler Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie Argyle relegated and Torquay miss out on promotion The season is over for Devon’s professional football clubs and it will be summer of rebuilding across the board Plymouth Argyle knew their fate before the final day defeat to champions Leeds United but the spirited performances under recently appointed Head Coach Miron Muslic should be enough evidence that the Pilgrims will be major contenders for a swift return to the Championship Welcoming Leeds to a sunny Home Park for their second-tier swansong Argyle took the lead through a Sam Byram own goal Leeds drew level with a goal from Willy Gnonto but the Greens were just a couple of minutes away from denying their visitors the title when Manor Solomon popped up with the winner While Leeds United celebrated their ascension to the Premier League Argyle will immediately look to lay the foundations for a strong response next season Exeter City had no such worries on their long trip to Mansfield Town and the lack of jeopardy showed leaving them with a 16th-place finish in League One Devon footy fans will already be casting their minds forward to the local derby between City and Argyle always a fabulous occasion at both SJP and Home Park Torquay United welcomed a huge crowd in excess of 5,700 for their play-off semi-final in the National League South but the visitors from Boreham Wood ruined the party atmosphere with a 1-0 victory that leaves the Gulls with another campaign in the sixth tier Emily Pink from Stitch by Stitch at an SDG Teach In event at University of Exeter (Image: Kay Cameron) Exeter Northcott Theatre has revealed the full programme for Reclaim Festival 2025 – a bold week-long celebration of women in the arts taking place from 9–14 June at the city-centre Barnfield Theatre the festival will feature a vibrant line-up of performances It’s been produced by local director and theatre-maker Katie Villa and aims to platform women’s voices across a range of creative disciplines - from experimental live art and poetry to dance and drag Exeter Northcott Joint Chief Executives Kelly Johnson and Martin Berry described the festival as “a crucial platform for addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in the arts We're so excited to be bringing Reclaim Festival back for the second year running It embodies our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for diverse talent to be seen “I'm so excited to share our full programme of events showcasing amazing work from some of the most incredible women in the South West From daring performance and breathtaking live art to fizzy social gatherings and captivating workshops Reclaim brings together the very best of local and experimental music curated by award-winning poet Kerry Priest who will also lead a creative Live Art Workshop headlined by multi-award-winning poet Clare Ferguson-Walker M/Others on the Mic – a daytime open mic gig that welcomes children alongside performing parents Manic – a FUSE International Best Solo Show winner including artists from Beyond Face and Micha Colombo Also returning to the Barnfield stage are Graceless a one-woman show by Northcott artist Grace Plant and Niplash by Karla Shacklock – a piece first tested at last year’s festival Shacklock shared how that opportunity allowed her to develop the work into a larger community-integrated performance: “This year’s performance features a local mum’s choir invitations for parents to donate stories and unwanted feeding paraphernalia and a special post-show activity hosted by Exeter’s own Lizzy Humber.” The festival also includes creative and inclusive workshops such as: Powerful Bodies – a fire-up-your-confidence dance session from Company Scherazade’s Maria Tarokh The Producer Pitstop – a meet-up led by Documental Theatre’s Naomi Turner And it wouldn’t be a Reclaim Festival without a suitably theatrical send-off This year ends with Dolly’s Film Club Presents: Mean Girls Prom Party – complete with karaoke Tickets and the full schedule are now available at exeternorthcott.co.uk A Devon man has been jailed to four years for robbing a local shop at knifepoint of Hyde Road in Paignton held up a Costcutters store during the morning of Friday 28 February Mr Ham appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on Thursday 1 May after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article in a public place The court heard how he entered the store at around 7 o'clock in the morning and said that he’d come to take the money out of the till and that he was armed Initially the member of staff present thought Dennis Ham was joking as she knew him as a regular customer but soon realised his intentions when he pointed a kitchen knife with a 12” blade in her direction and Mr Ham went behind the counter and stole money from a till He also made an unsuccessful attempt to steal from a second till He then left the store and went to Costa Coffee and approached a group of three men having a drink outside Ham asked them if they knew of any sex offenders that wanted taking out and showed them the knife in his waistband He was later arrested and he told officers in an interview he couldn’t remember events as he’d drank large amounts of alcohol and consumed drugs overnight Detective Constable Jake Woodbridge said: “The robbery was a truly terrifying ordeal for the member of staff present in the shop at the time and I have no doubt it will continue to have a considerable psychological impact on her “Mr Ham chose to abuse alcohol and drugs before pointing a knife at a woman who was simply trying to do her job “He then showed a knife to three members of the public who were minding their own business “Anybody who carries a knife in public is endangering the lives of all who they come into contact with and I welcome the sentence given to Ham.” Exeter City have confirmed their retained list following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season with eight players set to leave the club this summer Ben Purrington and Angus MacDonald will all depart at the end of their contracts alongside midfielder Shaun MacDonald and academy products Mitch Beardmore Five players are currently in contract negotiations: Caleb Watts The club has triggered contract extensions for Jay Bird with Magennis confirming his return after activating a one-year clause Five loan players have now returned to their parent clubs: Joel Colwill Gary Caldwell said the decisions were not easy but necessary as the club looks to strengthen the squad for the 2025/26 campaign but sometimes for different reasons it just doesn’t work out “We felt it was important to tell them early so they could enjoy the end-of-season awards and the final few days with their teammates.” who finished as the club’s top scorer with 13 goals and collected three player of the season awards will return for another year at St James Park Jay Bird remains with the club after a strong loan spell at Rochdale where he scored five goals in eight appearances Yfeko has signed permanently following his loan from Rangers Gary Caldwell also paid tribute to the departing players who played a key role in City’s promotion back to League One four years ago “We always want our own to do well and be successful Caldwell confirmed the club plans to build a squad of around 25 for next season with several new signings expected over the summer Voters in Exeter have sent a message of change to the Prime Minister after Labour lost all its city seats at county level in the council elections Reporting by local democracy reporters Bradley Gerrard and Guy Henderson It was total wipeout for Labour and all change for Exeter as voters ushered in a major shake-up in the way the city is represented at County Hall Prior to the election Labour held six of the city’s nine seats and the Conservatives the other three but voters decided to upset the status quo taking all six of Labour’s seats between them All but one of the city’s seats saw a change A massive power-shift has ended a 16-year Conservative reign at County Hall with the Liberal Democrats becoming the largest single party ahead of second-placed Reform UK who had nine county councillors going into the election giving them the most members of any party in Devon With no councillors in Devon ahead of the poll Reform UK are now the second biggest party in the county with 18 members the result means the Lib Dems are short of an overall majority – which would have been 31 councillors – suggesting they may need the support of other parties to wield control with the party now only holding 7 seats from its 40 prior to the vote just ahead of the six Green councillors and two independent members A host of Liberal Democrat councillors that serve on district councils across Devon have gained seats on Devon County Council which had largely dominated the Exeter-based seats on the county council with six members have been entirely wiped out in favour of Reform UK and Green members Andrew Leadbetter held Wearside and Topsham for the Conservatives in the city-based division Devon County Council election results.Photo: Bradley Gerrard/LDRS As the first Exeter results were announced Reform candidate Neil Stevens took the Alphington and Cowick seat from Labour sparking loud celebrations in the counting hall at the Riverside Leisure Centre Pinhoe and Mincinglake also brought victory for Reform Edward Hill won the seat with a majority of more than 200 over the Labour candidate with Angela Nash taking the top spot ahead of the Conservatives with Labour third Afterwards she said: “People are fed up with being lied to constantly The last result to be announced was for the Exwick and St Thomas ward where Reform’s Tony Stevens completed a memorable day for his party The Green Party’s Thomas Richardson became the city’s first Green county councillor taking the St Sidwells and St James seat from Labour He said he was keen to focus on the city’s public transport needs “It’s very clear that people are very upset with the traditional parties,” he said and the Greens are providing that alternative.” Green candidate Andy Ketchin also took the St Davids and Haven Banks seat from Labour almost doubling the vote of his nearest competitor There were cheers as Jack Eade took Heavitree and Whipton Barton for the Greens – another Labour loss He had a margin of just 25 votes over Reform Liberal Democrat Michael Mitchell took the Duryard and Pennsylvania seat from the Conservatives while Conservative Andrew Leadbetter held Wearside and Topsham Exeter City Council’s Labour leader Phil Bialyk said he was disappointed to see defeat for a good set of Labour candidates who would have served the city well He said more people had voted for Labour across the city than for any other party “It demonstrates that there is still strong support for Labour in Exeter,” he added Labour and Co-operative Party 1054; BAKER Lucille The Conservative Party Candidate 452; GILLETT Holly Green Party Candidate 544; NEWCOMBE Vanessa Labour and Co-operative Party 815; CHELVANAYAGAM Bernadette The Conservative Party Candidate 470; HOLMAN James Donald Labour and Co-operative Party 1018; HORNER Jamie Liam The Conservative Party Candidate 274; STEVENS Tony Green Party Candidate 1070; NEW Katherine Helen The Conservative Party Candidate 474; POLE Liz Labour and Co-operative Party 1037; RICHARDS Paul Stephen Green Party Candidate 424; BALDWIN Ian Anthon The Conservative Party Candidate 631; BLACK Paula Joan Labour and Co-operative Party 1115; CAMPION Christine Anne Liberal Democrat 370; HILL Edward Clive Andrew Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 38; KETCHIN Andy Labour and Co-operative Party 777; NEWBY Rob The Conservative Party Candidate 260; RUFFLE Rod Labour and Co-operative Party 981; LUSCOMBE David The Conservative Party Candidate 188; RICHARDSON Thomas Morgan Green Party Candidate 609; LEADBETTER Andrew Robert The Conservative Party Candidate 1479; OWEN Chris The Conservative Party Candidate 843; KORNDORFER Johanna Franziska Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival 2025 announces performances by Soul II Soul secure a discounted coaching session with a Devon professional and improve… This free online site has been set up to share and celebrate East Devon news and events from Exmouth Our independent news service always aims to be fair We're social, connect with us:FacebookTwitterInstagram Reform UK now has a voice on Exeter City Council after long-time Whipton resident Tony Payne won a seat held by Labour since 2021 Reform UK has claimed its first seat on Exeter City Council writes local democracy reporter Guy Henderson Tony Payne won the Mincinglake and Whipton by-election with a 159-vote majority over Labour candidate Paula Black The Independent and Green candidates both out-scored their Conservative and Liberal Democrat rivals Whipton resident Payne said he would ‘fight’ for improved services and better support for his local area calling for greater transparency and ‘real action’ decisions affecting our community have been made behind closed doors without proper input from the people who live here.” He said it was ‘time’ for a council that worked for the community The by-election was called after the resignation of sitting Labour councillor Naima Allcock Labour did hold on to the Topsham council seat left vacant by the resignation of Joshua Ellis-Jones from the council James Cookson beat Conservative rival Keith Sparkes by 28 votes with Reform third ahead of the Liberal Democrat and Green candidates Labour now holds 22 of the 39 seats on the city council Green Party Candidate 251; BALDWIN Ian Anthony The Conservative Party Candidate 189; BLACK Paula Labour and Co-operative Party 630; MARTIN Angela Exeter Chiefs chief executive Tony Rowe has cited the ‘clear disconnect’ between the players and coaching staff as the reason behind the dramatic suspension of Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher The pair were both relieved of their duties following Sunday’s 79-17 thrashing at the hands of Gloucester with director of rugby Rob Baxter being handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the season In an impassioned statement, long-standing Chiefs chairman and CEO Rowe detailed the reasons behind the dramatic decision to suspend both coaches “There has been a clear disconnect between the playing squad and the coaching staff and it is something we simply cannot allow to continue Exeter Rugby Club is built on togetherness Exeter Chiefs swing axe after ‘unacceptable’ Premiership defeat as coaching duo ‘suspended’ “This is about more than just responding to results,” Rowe added Rowe issued a rallying cry to the club’s supporters to stick with the team “I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to supporters for their unwavering loyalty and passion throughout the season The bond between the team and the fans has always been a cornerstone of the club’s success and that unity will be more important than ever as the Chiefs look to build momentum heading into the future.” Following the suspension of Hepher and Hunter, who had both had spells as club head coach this season, Baxter was handed front-line coaching duties until the end of the season His first spell as head coach began in 2009 leading them to promotion from the Championship in his first season and later lifting three Premiership Cups ‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches Rowe backed the former club captain to ‘write the next successful chapter’ of the club’s story “Rob is the right person to bring everyone back onto the same page to ensure that every player and coach is working towards the same goals.” “His understanding of what it takes to build a winning culture and develop players to their full potential is unrivalled in the club’s history.” “With Rob playing a more active coaching role again we are confident this is the first step in writing the next successful chapter of the Exeter Chiefs story.” Exeter return to Premiership action next weekend as they take on Northampton Saints at Sandy Park READ MORE: Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’ Planet Rugby assesses the key contenders to take over as Exeter Chiefs' new head coach The latest news as it happens in Dartmoor covering Okehampton important updates and local opinions from across Okehampton Cycling and more local Dartmoor Sports News property sales & property of the week including Okehampton house prices and opinions on Dartmoor's property market including Okehampton Local area spotlights & features across Dartmoor Dartmoor national park is 368 miles of beautiful English countryside find out what green issues are affecting Dartmoor here at The Moorlander Get local news & council updates for across Dartmoor including Okehampton Showcasing and celebrating the incredible independent businesses of Dartmoor Ashburton & Surrounding areas from the local community & our reporters Get your local Dartmoor traffic & travel reports captured at the Bath Festival by Steven Haywood is set to perform at the Exeter Comedy Festival after winning the US Eddie-Folio award for best comedy A West Devon vicar is swapping the pulpit for punchlines as she prepares to perform at the Exeter Comedy Festival this June an independent minister based in the small village of Meeth will be taking to the stage on 6 June as part of the city-wide festival.  Already a finalist in the UK Funny Women competition and winner of the 2024 US Eddie-Folio Award for best comedy writing she’s proving that it’s never too late or too unlikely to try stand-up “If you’d told me that I’d become a stand-up comedian at the age of 56 you’d have got a very funny look in return,” she said “But they do say that if you want to make God laugh Maggy’s journey to comedy began not under a spotlight and writing bespoke funeral services.  It was there that humour naturally surfaced “Funerals are always terrifying,” she said.  I write bespoke ones that reflect the exact level of faith of the deceased and it is so important to get every fact correct This is a human life being laid to rest with dignity and respect with relatives who are grieving and vulnerable.” it was probably the funerals that got me into comedy.” Maggy explained that a series of unexpected nudges led her to comedy.  once joked that a survey showed that people’s number one fear is public speaking you’re going to be happier in the coffin than doing the eulogy.” Families often asked if they could share a funny story or a joke about their loved one and Maggy realised that humour could bring comfort in difficult times “There’s nothing like a rumble of appreciative chuckling to salve a sad situation.” hadn’t crossed her mind until a series of coincidences “Have you ever thought about doing stand-up?” a man asked her at a talk she gave on the women of the Old Testament “I could never do that,” she replied at the time.  explaining how she went on a comedy course to regain her self-esteem during a divorce “When God throws three hints at you within the space of seven days Maggy found a five-week stand-up comedy course starting just a week later let alone any of the other six trainees,” she said.  inconsequentially: ‘I don’t like old people.’ I told her she’d recover from that in time .. Her set was different from the others.  “I was the only one who had funny stories to tell which weren’t about sex food or the awfulness of other people,” she said.  I found that I was stripping down their views (and prejudices) about God and spiritual people while simultaneously making them laugh.” she was performing at comedy gigs around the city.  the six of us had our first comedy showcase on a Sunday night in the middle of Birmingham When you’re up on stage you often can’t hear your audience so I had no idea whether my set was working I was getting comedy bookings to perform all around the city.” “I’ve done two runs at the Edinburgh Fringe completely alone and the second one with two other vicars – a Rector from Kent and an RAF Chaplain – in an act called White Collar Comedy,” she said.  three lay readers and four Religious Education teachers in the audience over the two weeks we were there.” each Bible story re-told brings knowledge to a new generation that may never even have heard the Lord’s Prayer Comedy can dissolve the sacred cows of religion and lift hearts and open eyes It can draw laughter from deep within the sacred and dissolve the profane To do this work is an incredible privilege.” And while some have criticised her for blending comedy with faith some people have said that I shouldn’t do this,” she said.  in a profession that has been plagued by misogyny and homophobia for centuries “is one elderly woman making jokes about fundamentalists atheists and God really going to bring the clergy into disrepute?!” As she prepares for the Exeter Comedy Festival she’s determined to challenge more than just the audience’s expectations “Having a woman priest in your parish is still only optional – any parish that objects can refuse to have one – and if that diocese has a female bishop they can insist on having a male bishop who has never ordained a woman to come and do things like confirmations etc With her comedic journey only just beginning Maggy is looking forward to continuing her work and inspiration to all who are willing to listen © Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page Catherine Leeves with the real-life ‘Mischievous Mabel’ the border terrier who inspired her debut children’s book series Reach out for help: How drug and alcohol recovery services could work for you or a loved one wild chimpanzees have been pictured eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol A research team led by the University of Exeter set up cameras in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park Footage of chimps sharing fermented African breadfruit – confirmed to contain ethanol (alcohol) – raises fascinating questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol Humans are believed to have consumed alcohol far back into our evolutionary history And the new study suggests our closest relatives might be doing something similar “For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” said Anna Bowland, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall “We also know that sharing alcohol – including through traditions such as feasting – helps to form and strengthen social bonds “So – now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits – the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?” The researchers used motion-activated cameras which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions Fruit shared by these chimps was tested for alcohol content The highest level found was the equivalent of 0.61% ABV (Alcohol By Volume – a measure used in alcoholic drinks) But the researchers say it may be the “tip of the iceberg” as 60-85% of chimps’ diet is fruit – so low levels of alcohol in various foods could add up to significant consumption The researchers stress that chimps are unlikely to get “drunk” – as this would clearly not improve their survival chances The impact of alcohol on chimps’ metabolism is unknown But recent discoveries of a molecular adaptation that greatly increased ethanol metabolism in the common ancestor of African apes suggests eating fermented fruits may have ancient origins in species including humans and chimps so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important,” said Dr Kimberley Hockings “We need to find out more about whether they deliberately seek out ethanolic fruits and how they metabolise it but this behaviour could be the early evolutionary stages of ‘feasting’ it suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history.” To find out more about this research project, visit https://cantanhezchimpanzeeproject.com/ Bowland’s work was funded by the Primate Society of Great Britain The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, is entitled: “Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits.” View full archives Exeter Rugby Club is delighted to announce a new partnership with leading British sportswear brand who will become the official kit supplier for both the Exeter Chiefs Men’s and Women’s teams This exciting collaboration comes at a time of significant growth and ambition at Sandy Park as well as outfitting the club’s coaches and support staff renowned for its innovation and high-performance technical sportswear continues to strengthen its presence across elite sport Castore have recently announced a partnership with England Rugby as well as leading teams such as Everton Football Club and the England Cricket team further showcasing its commitment to excellence across multiple disciplines Exeter Rugby Club Chairman and Chief Executive "We are pleased to welcome Castore to the Exeter Chiefs family This new partnership represents a fantastic opportunity to introduce a premium brand into our network of valued sponsors and partners We are confident that Castore will benefit from the many positives associated with being part of our club and we look forward to working closely with them to deliver memorable kits for our players and supporters alike." discussed the partnership with Chiefs and said: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Exeter Chiefs “As Castore continues to grow its presence within elite rugby working with a forward-thinking organisation like Exeter is a natural fit We look forward to delivering high-performance products that support the Chiefs’ players at every level – and kits that their passionate fans can wear with pride.” The first pieces from the new Castore Chiefs range will be available in the club shop from June and online via the Chiefs’ official website with further kit launches planned through the summer as we prepare for the 25/26 season Exeter Rugby Club can confirm that following Sunday's disappointing result against Gloucester Rugby has made the decision to suspend coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher pending a full review of the match and the 2024/25 season to date Rowe said: "No final decision regarding the club’s coaching structure going forward has been made and it would be improper to make any further comment until all internal procedures have been completed." Director of Rugby Rob Baxter will step into a front-line coaching role to oversee the remainder of the season To receive a copy of the Exeter Chiefs Newsletter, please enter your email address below. You will then receive an email to confirm that you wish to receive it. You can unsubscribe at any time simply by following the link at the bottom of the email. Crawley's third win in seven games since Scott Lindsey's return as manager cuts the gap between them and safety to three points with two games remaining Hepburn-Murphy and Camara both struck in the space of two minutes to put the hosts in control Hepburn-Murphy scored at the second attempt from close range after his initial attempt was parried by Joe Whitworth and then turned provider to set up Camara after a quick break Hepburn-Murphy made it 3-0 from point blank range after a Camara shot was blocked after 24 minutes before Caleb Watts replied for Exeter a minute later by heading in Ed Francis' cross Substitute Tony Yogane shot into the side netting for the off-song Grecians who laboured to get back into the game Keeper Whitworth was fortunate to escape a straight red card for handling outside the area before midfielder Francis was sent off a minute from time after picking up two bookings substituted for Junior Quitirna at 75 minutesNumber 8 Yogane Match OfficialsReferee: Ben TonerAssistant Referee 1: David HarrisonAssistant Referee 2: Daniel BonneywellFourth Official: Wayne CartmelMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightCrawley Town have won just one of their last seven Football League games against Exeter City (D2 L4) with the pair playing out a 4-4 draw in the reverse fixture in December last year Exeter City have won four of their seven away Football League games against Crawley Town (D1 L2) scoring 2+ goals in three of those victories Crawley have played six home matches on Easter Monday Exeter have won just one of their last five league games played on Easter Monday (D2 L2) though that sole victory did come last season vs Cheltenham Town (2-1) Gavan Holohan (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time Second yellow card to Ed Francis (Exeter City) Jeremy Kelly (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half Reece Cole (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Joel Colwill (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Liam Fraser (Crawley Town) is shown the yellow card Charlie Barker (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half The Terriers went in front from their first effort on goal after 20 minutes when Josh Koroma found himself in space on the left and curled a delightful finish into the far corner from 20 yards Exeter drew level in the 39th minute when Jack McMillan broke free down the right and crossed low into the box where Ilmari Niskanen came charging in at the back post to fire past Jacob Chapman An entertaining second half saw Sonny Cox denied by Chapman while Joe Whitworth came to Exeter's rescue Herbie Kane volleyed a stunning effort into the bottom corner which was chalked off for offside and McMillan had the ball in the net for Exeter after 56 minutes finishing smartly from a long Alex Hartridge throw Whitworth made a superb one-handed save to deny Koroma while Matty Pearson sent a header against the crossbar Exeter sealed the points in stoppage time with Andrew Oluwabori scoring his first EFL goal from close range from Tony Yogane's cross Worthington: 'We weren't ruthless' Wiles Match OfficialsReferee: Ollie YatesAssistant Referee 1: Richard MorrisAssistant Referee 2: Harley McKittrickFourth Official: James DurkinMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightExeter City have lost each of their last four league games against Huddersfield Town with those defeats coming by a combined 12-1 score line Huddersfield Town have won five of their last six away league games against Exeter City (L1) scoring exactly four goals in each of their last two visits to St James Park Exeter have won just two of their last 11 home league games (D4 L5) conceding 1.9 goals on average per match during that time Huddersfield have lost each of their last five away league games The Terriers last endured a longer losing away run in April 2019 in the Premier League (7) Ryan Woods (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Andrew Oluwabori (Exeter City) header from very close range to the bottom right corner Assisted by Tony Yogane with a cross following a corner Joel Colwill (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner David Kasumu (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing Joe Hodge (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half Andrew Oluwabori (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked Tony Yogane (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Jack McMillan (Exeter City) is shown the yellow card Oliver Turton (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing Tony Rowe hopes Exeter will put on a united front now that Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has returned to a hands-on coaching role As first revealed on RugbyPass by Neil Fissler were stood down from their duties following last weekend’s record Premiership defeat at the hands of Gloucester Rowe entered the dressing room after that 79-17 debacle and let rip, letting it be known that the non-performance at Kingsholm wasn’t what he expected from a Chiefs side A club statement said: “Following a challenging run of results that have fallen short of the high expectations held by everyone connected to Exeter Rugby Club decisive action is being taken to put the team firmly back on track “As part of a broader reset within the rugby department Exeter Chiefs can confirm that director of rugby Rob Baxter will be stepping back into a more hands-on coaching role and clarity that have underpinned the club’s greatest successes.” Exeter Chiefs bosses have today held crisis talks following yesterday’s record 79-17 defeat at the hands of Gloucester amid mayhem behind the scenes at Sandy Park CEO and chairman Tony Rowe CBE commented: “There has been a clear disconnect between the playing squad and the coaching staff “Rob is the right person to bring everyone back onto the same page to ensure that every player and coach is working towards the same goals His understanding of what it takes to build a winning culture Exeter are reviewing their coaching group moving forward, so quite where this leaves Dave Walder, remains to be seen. Walder, who recently worked with England U20s is reported to have agreed terms to replace Hepher as backs and attack coach “This is about more than just responding to results,” Rowe added. “It’s about re-establishing who we are and where we’re going. We’ve faced challenges before, and each time we’ve come back stronger. With Rob playing a more active coaching role again, we are confident this is the first step in writing the next successful chapter of the Exeter Chiefs story Harlequins have agreed terms with Exeter Chiefs' long-serving scrum-half Stu Townsend who will move to the capital when his contract runs out at the end of the season News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now Exeter’s empire certainly wasn’t built in a day The Devonians have been on a rollercoaster in the past 15 years The move from the County Ground to Sandy Park sparked far-fetched dreams of possible Premiership promotion but nobody could even fathom what would happen in the years since getting into the top flight Programmes used to joke about Exeter becoming Premiership champions even when the Chiefs began to mix it with the big dogs 2014 saw the first major honour enter the cabinet in the form of the LV= Cup (as it was then) winning the Premiership wasn’t a joke anymore as Gareth Steenson’s penalty saw them crowned champions for the first time after more final heartbreak at the hands of Saracens the greatest fortnight in Exeter’s history encapsulated what was a golden moment for a golden generation but Exeter’s empire was certainly destroyed in one George Skivington’s side, thrashed 90-0 themselves only a year previous, demolished the Chiefs 79-17 in front of a raucous Shed leaving this diehard fan (although neutral reporter may I add) head-in-hands and speechless in the press box Exeter’s empire lay besieged on that pristine 4G turf penalties and just missed chances handed Skivington’s men easy possession and boy did they make it count it had transpired I’d missed another try – one had only been scored two minutes prior If not for Gloucester’s missed kicks at goal ironic considering their merciless rampaging towards the try line had Will Rigg and Will Haydon-Wood not rescued some small level of pride with two late tries It could very easily have been 79-7… Possibly the worst day of my Chiefs supporting life so far Like, this could actually be 100.#GLOvEXE #GallagherPrem — Louis Chapman-Coombe (@LCCJournalist) April 27, 2025 Mere 24 hours after the Kingsholm humiliation Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review of both the game and the 2024/25 season as a whole and Caesar Rob Baxter – the man who built the empire – was swiftly handed front-line coaching duties once again until the end of the season Baxter himself had fielded questions over whether or not the coaching group was getting stale Hunter and Hepher all in place for over a decade “There is a genuine danger of that (going stale) happening,” Baxter said previously the danger of it and it actually happening are two different things.” He added: “If you spoke to the players now and asked if we train the same way as he did a year ago ‘do we talk about how the game is changing what the better teams are doing?’ They would go we’re not trying to repeat the same things that we did five years ago or three years ago or two years ago.’” This also comes amid growing calls for Baxter himself to walk with him previously revealing he did feel under pressure following their horrific run of eight-straight defeats “The reality is I’m a professional sports coach and we’ve just been well-beaten in a competition we qualified for,” Baxter said He added: “It might not be the competition we need to be in at the stage we are as a team But the return of Caesar could herald a much-needed change among the Centurions at the Sandy Park garrison One thing that is for certain is that Baxter demands high standards He was the man who plotted the rise of the Chiefs and led them from being the second-best team in Devon to the best in Europe A staple of that was their work in the five-metre with relentless pick-and-goes which only ever ended when a try was scored or rolling mauls that were only ever going over the whitewash too something that is often overlooked about Baxter’s gameplan is their intent to still play wide and use their backline His return is also a clear nod to the ethos of the Chiefs that has been missing for some time Exeter boss blasts ‘unacceptable’ defeat after coming ‘under an avalanche’ at Kingsholm particularly at a club like Exeter that were simply excellent at the stuff they did not helped by a clear half-back combination have taken away the very fundamentals of their game You’d think Baxter’s first job is getting everyone back on the same page doing the basics well and returning to that style that won them silverware they might not have the same players available to them now as they once did but these were hallmarks of Baxter’s approach and they should come back in bucketfuls now he’s back on the frontline rather than watching from behind the glass panels you feel there could be widespread changes to the team centre Rigg should be the first in line to come back into the starting line-up for the foreseeable future following yet another standout try-scoring performance Given he has also put pen to paper on a new deal Zach Wimbush has struggled with injuries this season but again would add a whole new dynamic to the squad Ben Hammersley’s injury could lead to a reshuffle in the back-three with Josh Hodge likely to push out wide and either Harvey Skinner or Dan John coming in at full-back it could then see either Ben Coen or Will Haydon-Wood start at 10 There will also likely be some changes in the pack considering the manner in which Gloucester ran riot Argentina lock Franco Molina would be a likely candidate to come back in although his future is still up in the air while Josh Iosefa-Scott and Martin Moloney could also return to the starting XV you would imagine Baxter blood’s in a few of the senior academy players The aforementioned Coen is a prime example but Louis Gulley is very highly thought of at the club and recently signed a professional deal Joe Bailey and Kane James have both tasted first team minutes but could be in-line for more regular exposure come the final few rounds Nic Allison and Nick Lilley have also impressed on England U20s duty this year and would be viable options too Baxter doesn’t hold back from making necessary changes He dropped Stuart Hogg for the 2021 Premiership semi-final and final to reward the in-form combination of Jack Nowell Baxter also forced Joe Simmonds into the starting line-up ahead of club legend Steenson too in an effort to speed up his progress It won’t just be changes for changes sake To the life that used to be,” said Grantaire the glasses will be coming out for a different reason soon READ MORE: ‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended on Monday pending a formal review. Jake Richards has made 31 appearances for Exeter City since his debut in August 2023 Highly rated Exeter City teenager Jake Richards says he would "love to stay" at the League One club The 17-year-old has still yet to agree his first professional deal at the club The midfielder has featured in 19 first-team games this season and was named the division's apprentice of the year at the English Football League (EFL) awards Negotiations between the club, Richards' representatives and his family are ongoing, with manager Gary Caldwell stating his desire to keep the talented midfielder at St James Park. "Exeter's my hometown club so I'd love to stay and I'd love to be here for as long as possible," Richards told BBC Radio Devon "But there's obviously things going on behind the scenes that aren't really in my control "Not everything's true in the media but I'd love to be here next season and prove again the type of player I am because I still believe that I haven't shown what I'm fully capable of yet." Jake Richards was named the EFL's League One apprentice of the season this week Richards is the latest young player come to through Exeter's much-admired academy, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ollie Watkins Having made his debut as a 16-year-old in the first round of last season's Carabao Cup Richards' involvement in the first team has gradually increased This season he scored his first goals as a professional and has played 633 minutes in League One He says winning an EFL award for his work has inspired him to improve further "It's good that I've been recognised for my hard work and what I've done over the last two years," he said "It's obviously a personal achievement and I'm very happy about it but I've just got to go into next season and obviously try and do the same aiming towards maybe League One young player of the season and stuff like that." 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