‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches

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Exeter Chiefs Premiership

Exeter players show their dejection at the final whistle after their Gallagher Premiership hammering at Gloucester

Social media was divided in its reaction to Monday’s startling development that Exeter owner Tony Rowe has suspended coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher until the end of the season.

Following a difficult winter for the ninth-place Premiership side, the Chiefs decided in late March to reshuffle their staff and promote Hepher to head coach with Hunter reverting to an assistant’s role.

However, less than six weeks after that rejig was made, Exeter have now placed the pair of coaches on gardening leave and re-appointed Rob Baxter, the director of rugby, to frontline coaching for the rest of an underwhelming campaign that has three league matches remaining.

Having initially sacked defence coach Omar Mouneimne in October, Chiefs crashed out of the Investec Champions Cup at the pool stage following a winless four-match effort that included respective 21-64 and 17-69 Sandy Park hammerings by Toulouse and Bordeaux.

They were also battered 14-48 in the Premiership Rugby Cup final at home to Bath in March and Sunday’s embarrassing 17-79 Premiership surrender to Gloucester was followed by TV footage of an upset Rowe visiting the dressing room at Kingsholm to deliver a public dressing down to the squad.

Suspensions ignited a varied debate on X

On Monday evening, the hurting Chiefs released a statement confirming the suspensions of coaches Hunter and Hepher. “Club chairman and CEO Tony Rowe has decided to suspend coaches Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher pending a full review of the match and the 2024/25 season to date,” it read.

“In the interim, director of rugby Rob Baxter will step into a frontline coaching role to oversee the remainder of the season.”

In the media release, Rowe added: “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.”

The suspensions ignited a varied debate on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, with differing points of view published in reaction to Rowe’s unceremonious decision to dump two long-serving staff members.

James Blythe suggested: “Rot starts at the top… CEO should take responsibility. First berating players/coaches on live TV. Now this statement. Tony Rowe – losing the plot.”

An opposing perspective was offered by John Neary. “So, basically, the bloke who sets the overall strategy, Rob Baxter, threw his coaching picks under a bus? They have had a bad season. It happens. I mean, we [Gloucester], have had three seasons of it, including a 90-0 drubbing. So, for me, a hysterical overreaction by Exeter.”

Eddy Crowe weighed in with a tongue-in-cheek prediction about club owner Rowe. “Suspending coaches is a bit over the top with three games left. Next, Tony Rowe will be the head coach.”

Marcus Watts commented: “Should Rob Baxter not be shouldering some of the blame? No point sacking everyone beneath him if the same person is giving the orders.”

JB Claims added: “Obviously tough to defend the result on the weekend but Tony Rowe gone full head-loss. No way should he be entering the changerooms. Suspending the coaching team with three games left? The squad is threadbare with no tightheads, young locks, poverty half-backs and not much else.”

One fan expressed his disappointment – for a very selfish reason – that Baxter wasn’t sacked. “Shame. I was hoping they would sack Rob Baxter so my club [Tigers] could get him to come to us,” tweeted Michael Eagleton.

READ MORE: Exeter Chiefs swing axe after ‘unacceptable’ Premiership defeat as coaching duo ‘suspended’

Exeter Chiefs Ali Hepher Rob Baxter

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