Celtic Revolution

RICHARD BATH IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER BASED IN THE UK.

- RICHARD BATH

THE COUNTRY BUMPKINS UPSET THE APPLE CART

The Devonians may have played against the 1905 Originals in the match which produced the Kiwis’ ‘All Blacks’ moniker, but from their foundation in 1871 until lead sponsor Tony Rowe took over the then Fourth Division club in 1996, Exeter were a largely second tier club. But under the former Royal Marine and powerboat racing champion, this little West Country club built a shiny new ground, rebranded themselves as ‘The Chiefs’ and gradually rose from the third tier of the leagues. In 2010 under new director of rugby, local boy and former player Rob Baxter, Exeter Chiefs finally gained promotion to the top flight and for the second half of the past decade have vied for domestic domination alongside now disgraced Saracens. Rowe and Baxter have proved two things: that it is possible to break into the elite from the outside, and that it is possible to do so by developing almost exclusively local talent. Together the two West Countrymen have completely reshaped the landscape of England’s Premiership.

MONEY TALKS