rugby

England’s Red Roses will take on New Zealand’s Black Ferns at Exeter’s Sandy Park at the end of the month in a fixture that could “inspire the next generation of female rugby players.”

England Women take on New Zealand in the first of their autumn internationals at Sandy Park on Sunday 31 October - kick-off 2.30pm. Tickets have already gone on sale.

It’s the first of a double-header against the Black Ferns who England then face in Northampton a week later before taking on Canada (14 November, Twickenham Stoop, London) and USA (21 November, Sixways, Worcester).

...

Bradfords Building Supplies with the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club welcomed the return of its major regional rugby festival, the Bradfords Community Cup, hosting the final of the postponed 2019 event at the Chiefs’ Sandy Park stadium on Saturday 25th September.

The Bradfords Community Cup is an under-8s tag rugby festival designed to foster grassroots interest in sport and rugby in local communities around the region.

Four under-8 South-West teams managed to secure a place at the event through a social media competition. The event was originally due to take place last year...

A local U13’s rugby team can smarten up after matches thanks to new match dinner shirts from funding awarded by South West Water.

Exeter Athletic RFC is an amateur rugby club based in Clyst St Mary which formed in 2018 from the merger of Exeter-based clubs Wessex RFC and Exeter Youth RFC.

The funding comes as part of South West Water’s Neighbourhood Fund to support community groups and initiatives which will improve the lives of residents in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset by inspiring physical activities, enhancing education, health and wellbeing and delivering positive...

RUGBY is back with a bang in England after months of frustration caused by the Covid pandemic, meaning it was an opportunity for junior festivals to take centre stage this weekend as the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup returned at Exeter Chiefs.

Crediton Rugby Club hosted an exciting Under-11 and Under-12 grassroots developmental festival on Sunday as youngsters finally got the opportunity to lace up their boots again, with a myriad of teams from the West Country and surrounding areas locking horns.

This successful series of nationwide events, now running for nearly two...

EXETER CHIEFS’ emphatic introduction to the Allianz Premier 15s has sparked more players dreaming of Devon, says head coach Susie Appleby.

Chiefs finished sixth last year, their maiden top-flight season, tying fifth-placed Gloucester-Hartpury Women with 50 points apiece but missing out on the top half of the table on points difference.

It’s been a busy offseason for Appleby, whose new signings include hooker Clara Nielson, a Devon native and Exeter University PhD graduate joining the club from Bristol Bears, alongside scrum-half Brooke Bradley, full-back/wing Olivia...

SAM SIMMONDS is hot on the heels of Taulupe Faletau in pursuit of The British & Irish Lions’ No.8 jersey.

And the record-breaking Exeter Chiefs ace has proved ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’ he’s worthy of a place on the South African plane.

That’s according to three-time Lion and 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, who revelled in watching ‘clinical’ Simmonds rack up a thrilling 21 tries in domestic action this season.

Simmonds, 26, Faletau and Jack Conan are embroiled in a red-hot battle for the No.8 position ahead of the First Test against South...

WITH normality finally starting to return to the UK, it was rugby’s opportunity to take centre stage at the weekend as the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup returned at Exeter Chiefs.

Crediton RFC hosted a thrilling Under-11 and Under-12 grassroots developmental festival on Saturday as youngsters at last got the opportunity to lace up their boots again, with Exeter Athletic RFC Under-11s among the teams taking part.

This successful series of nationwide events, now running for nearly two decades and organised by Land Rover – the Official Vehicle of Premiership Rugby – has...

Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds has been crowned the RPA Vodafone Business Players' Player of the Year at this year's Pickstar RPA Awards hosted virtually for the second time on rugby podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby on Wednesday evening at 6pm. The record-breaking try-scorer polled the most number of votes from his fellow professionals to claim the most prestigious award in the English game, capping off a phenomenal season in which he has not only been instrumental for his club but also received a British and Irish Lions call up for this summer. The 26-year-old, who was also the...

Rare photos and a medal from the halcyon days of rugby will be auctioned in Chilcotts sale on April 17.

The items were discovered during a routine house clearance, bringing to light the history of one local family’s deep connection with the sport.

Initially three black and white team photographs were found. Two are of Exeter RFC team 1930-31 and 1931-32, and the other depicts the Honiton RFC team of 1935-6 pictured sitting in front of the pavilion on Allhallows Playing Fields. All the photos featured one individual named CH Beer, with Frank Beer in the Honiton picture...

As defending champions of the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, Rob Baxter is acutely aware his Exeter Chiefs side have a huge target on their backs this season.

It’s a challenge, however, that the Devonians are clear relishing with the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby this week exuding a real air of excitement ahead of tomorrow night’s opener away to Harlequins (7:45pm).

“We’re looking forward to Friday, but so we should be,” said Baxter. “People will say it’s going to be tough for us having a short break, but I actually think not having that lengthy period off...