Why Rugby Thrives in Exeter Today
Exeter is not a large city, but when it comes to rugby, it competes (and wins) against the biggest clubs in the UK and Europe. From the noise of the East Terrace at Sandy Park to muddy Saturday mornings at junior clubs across Devon, the sport is woven into daily life here in a way few other English cities can claim.
A Club Built on Devon Foundations
Exeter Rugby Club was officially founded in October 1872, then flourished to twenty clubs operating in Exeter alone by the turn of the century, and for most of its existence, it was a regional side with regional ambitions.
The transformation came after Devonian, Rob Baxter, took the reins in 2009: promotion to the Premiership followed in 2010, followed by title wins in 2017 and 2020, and a Champions Cup triumph that confirmed the Chiefs as the finest club side in Europe at the time.
Back Where They Belong
According to the latest rugby news, the 2025-26 campaign has the feel of a club rediscovering itself after a painful 2024-25 season.
Exeter currently sit fourth in the Premiership, pushing hard for a playoff place, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso among the standout performers of the season.
Off the pitch, investment from Black Knight Football Club, the group behind AFC Bournemouth that includes actor Michael B. Jordan, signals that ambitions here extend well beyond consolidation.
Sandy Park Stadium
There is no away end at Sandy Park, with the club maintaining a firm policy against fan segregation.
The revamped Supporters Bar and the East Terrace, known with cheerful irony as the ‘Library,’ generate noise that visiting fans tend to remember.
Sandy Park has grown steadily from an opening capacity of around 10,000 in 2006 to its current 15,600, with planning permission in place to expand in phases to 20,600.
Grassroots
The professional game sits atop a substantial community pyramid, with clubs including Exeter Athletic RFC, Exeter Saracens and Topsham RFC serving players of all ages and abilities across the city and surrounding area.
The Chiefs’ Defender Rising Stars Cup draws grassroots clubs from across the region, while Exeter Chiefs Women, competing at the top level since 2020-21, have given the city’s rugby culture a new and growing dimension.
The City, The Club, The Game
Rugby in Exeter runs far deeper than one club’s results, stretching from volunteer coaches on freezing touchlines to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso leaving defenders for dead in front of 15,000 fans at Sandy Park. Devonians have been playing the game since long before the professional era, and that, more than any trophy or takeover, is why it continues to thrive.
