European Professional Club Rugby

Exeter Chiefs are the 2020 European champions. They are in Pool A of the Heineken Champions Cup.

Exeter won their first EPCR trophy when they lifted the Heineken Champions Cup in 2020. Since that victory, they have made the knockout stage twice, succumbing to Leinster Rugby in the quarter-finals in 2021 and to Munster in Round of 16 last season.

Last season, Exeter lost to Munster 26-10 at Thomond Park in Limerick in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie. The Chiefs had qualified by finishing sixth in Pool A, winning their home matches against Glasgow Warriors and Montpellier Hérault Rugby, but losing both their away games.

Rob Baxter has been in charge of Exeter since 2009. He was head coach and director of rugby for the past five years. The 51-year-old was appointed Officer of the Order of British Empire in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to rugby union.

Exeter's squad is packed full of big names from the Home Nations. The squad also contains experienced Australia prop Scott Sio and Argentina flanker Santiago Grondona.

Exeter open their Pool A schedule with a trip to Castres Olympique in December. They finish it in January with the return against Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria and a home tie with Castre.