Head Coach Hunter Leaves Exeter After Record 79-17 Loss

Exeter caput coach Rob Hunter has near nan nine by communal consent.

The move comes 4 days aft he and onslaught coach Ali Hepher were suspended pursuing Chiefs' club-record 79-17 nonaccomplishment astatine Gloucester.

Hunter had only had 4 games arsenic caput coach, having been promoted to nan role pursuing Hepher's demotion successful March.

After a 52-38 nonaccomplishment astatine Bristol, he led Exeter to their 3rd triumph of nan play pinch a 17-15 triumph complete Newcastle.

An encouraging 26-24 nonaccomplishment to Bath followed earlier past Sunday's 13-try thrashing astatine Kingsholm.

It brings to an extremity a 13-year spell astatine Sandy Park for nan erstwhile England Under-20s boss.

He spent overmuch of his clip arsenic Exeter's forwards coach and helped nan nine triumph 2 Premiership titles and nan 2020 European Champions Cup.

Exeter president and main executive Tony Rowe said: "On behalf of everyone astatine Exeter Rugby Club, I would for illustration to definitive our gratitude to Rob for his dedication and nan effect he has had during his clip pinch us. We wish him each occurrence successful his early endeavours."

Director of rugby Rob Baxter, who has returned to overseeing coaching for nan remainder of nan season, added: "Rob has been an integral portion of our coaching squad crossed aggregate seasons.

"I want to personally convey him for his difficult work, loyalty, and nan affirmative power he has had connected nan squad.

"Although it is ne'er easy to portion ways pinch personification who has contributed truthful much, we look guardant pinch assurance and enthusiasm arsenic we proceed to build connected nan beardown foundations Rob has helped to establish."

Hunter is nan 2nd coach this play to time off nan troubled club, who are ninth successful nan Premiership this season.

Defence coach Omar Mouneimne near astatine nan extremity of October arsenic Exeter had their worst commencement to a play successful their history - a tally of 8 successive convention losses.

But nan mediocre shape continued arsenic they were heavy beaten successful each of their Champions Cup excavation games - including a grounds European conclusion - 69-17 - by Bordeaux.

Baxter is now successful power of coaching until nan extremity of nan season, pinch caller defence coach Haydn Thomas and skills coach Ricky Pellow alongside him.

But it intends he will beryllium looking for astatine slightest 2 caller coaches successful nan summer, pinch erstwhile Newcastle leader Dave Walder heavy linked pinch becoming nan club's caller backs coach.

The nine will besides request a caput coach, and whitethorn good want to adhd a forwards master arsenic well.

Hepher is owed to time off his first-team domiciled astatine nan extremity of nan play for a caller position moving pinch academy players transitioning to nan Exeter first team.

Exeter's adjacent crippled is astatine location to reigning Premiership champions Northampton connected Sunday, 11 May - erstwhile they will beryllium without influential number 8 Greg Fisilau and Wales centre Joe Hawkins aft they were injured successful nan Gloucester loss.