When Exeter Chiefs were promoted to the Premiership in May 2010, few could have predicted such dramatic progress for the Devon club.
Exeter had never before played in English rugby union’s top flight and were tipped by many to return from whence they came.
Rob Baxter, the club’s articulate, thoughtful and deeply grounded director of rugby, had other ideas.
Ideas, in fact, which included becoming crowned champions of England, a feat they achieved two months ago when overcoming Wasps in the Premiership final at Twickenham.
Exeter’s rise has been remarkable, but Baxter is a good story in his own right.
The club’s former long-serving captain, who still lives on the family farm just outside Exeter, was handed the reins in 2009.
Since then, the Chiefs have enjoyed immediate promotion and Premiership finishes of eighth, fifth, sixth, eighth, fifth and second before winning the title last season.
Baxter’s father John played several hundred games for the club and when Rob grew up, he decided he wanted to be a rugby player too.
He captained the team for ten years and then became coach, not only taking the Chiefs into the Premiership but presiding over improvement year on year.
The financial input of owner Tony Rowe, a telecoms magnate, in Exeter’s rise has been well documented.
On the field, Baxter has signed players with a point to prove, stirred in plenty of home-grown spice, and blended the Chiefs into a well-balanced, well-motivated force punching above their weight.
Their Sandy Park home continues to be developed and improved, much like Baxter’s team.
Exeter used to lose players to Bath, Gloucester and beyond but they are now developing the best talent in the south-west with homegrown Lions star Jack Nowell the most obvious example.
Baxter and his three trusty lieutenants – Ali Hepher (head coach), Rob Hunter (forwards coach) and Ricky Pellow (skills coach) – have all handed new three-year deals.
There is trust and there is undeniable progress at all levels of the club.
“One of the strengths of this coaching team is that we all offer something different to the mix,” said 46-year-old Baxter.
“We all want to be successful and we all want to see the players do as well as they can.
“Where we are different is that we see other things differently at times and can challenge one another if necessary.
“As I said, we have a great group of coaches, all of whom want to do well and get even better. We’re no different to players when it comes to being ambitious and being success.
“We want to have further achievements in the Premiership and we want to do a bit better than we have in Europe.
“Having that desire and that ambition is what drives you forward and I would like to think all of the ambitions we have can be met here at Exeter at least over the duration of this next contract.”
With Baxter steering the good ship Exeter, expect the Chiefs to continue to prosper this coming season.
