Baxter backs Hepher to shine in SA

By Stuart James
3/6/2016

Ali Hepher takes his first steps on the international coaching scene this summer with Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter giving his trusted number two a ringing endorsement.

Exeter’s 41-year-old backs coach has been chosen by the Rugby Football Union to lead the England Saxons for their forthcoming tour of South Africa, where he will be assisted by respective Wasps and Northampton Saints assistant coaches Andy Titterell and Alan Dickens and 2003 World Cup winner Richard Hill, who will be team manager.

“I am delighted for him and it is fully deserved. he is someone that has worked extremely hard here for what, seven years now? And he is definitely one of the big reasons for our continued progress.

“Not only does he work extremely hard, but he works extremely smart and I think that makes him a tremendous asset to the club.

“I am delighted that England actually decided to install him there as the head coach because in a lot of ways, he fills a lot of those roles here for us and I think it’s exactly the recognition he deserves and I think it will be a great experience for him. I think he will do a fantastic job.”

Hepher (pictured) has masterminded a Chiefs attack that plundered 77 tries in the Premiership this season and will be looking to transform that onto the international scene.

With the likes of Danny Cipriani, Kieran Brookes, Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Christian Wade, Semesa Rokoduguni, Tommy Taylor and new Exeter Chief Ollie Devoto in the party, it is a squad packed with international experience and quality.

The Saxons will play two tests against a South Africa A side and Hepher says he is relishing the chance to lead his country.

“I haven’t been in an international environment before – it’s good for me and will spark life into my coaching as much as anything,” Hepher told the RFU website. “But also the other guys will have different perspectives, I’ll pick up things off them, and we’ll become better coaches as a result.

“South Africa will bring absolute quality, they’re a passionate country and are obviously rugby mad. It’ll be a tough challenge but those are the challenges you want to meet – and we’ll do so front on.”

Hepher added: “As a management team we are certainly excited about it and we want to see how far we can take these guys, and there’s no better place to be going than South Africa. We’ve got to lean on (the experienced players) – ultimately this trip will be driven by them. We’ll help out and guide them along the way but it’s their careers we’re trying to push on into that main squad.

“Results will play a big factor in that. You bang in two wins and Eddie [Jones] is going to be looking very closely at that. If one player performs well then it rubs off to the next and the next.
“They’re all fantastic players in their own right, they’ve done it all season and there’s no reason that can’t continue in South Africa.”