COMMUNITY
Exeter Chiefs has launched its own community department in line with the example set by England's 12 Premiership clubs.
The community department will bring rugby to Exeter and Devon through a range of coaching initiatives led by a team headed up by Ben Breeze, Keith Fleming and Tony Walker.
Chiefs player Breeze, currently at the end of his rehabilitation of a knee injury, will serve as the department's consultant having run a successful community programme for Bristol Rugby for the last two years. This role led to him being presented with an EDF Energy Parliamentary Citizenship Innovation Award at the end of last season for the club's Inferno Programme, which tackles social inclusion by teaching rugby and life skills to young offenders at a number of prisons and young offenders' institutions throughout the Bristol Rugby catchment.
Fleming, who has already been running community projects with the club for the last two years, including tag festivals and holiday courses, will be joined by former Chiefs' crowd favourite Walker, who was forced to retire from playing rugby last season following a knee injury.
The trio will deliver rugby coaching to children, teachers and coaches through five main programmes: the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme, holiday coaching clinics, first team match day sessions that will form a part of Super Saturdays, rugby festivals and Chiefs' Class Coaching schools programme.
Exeter Chiefs' director of rugby Pete Drewett will oversee the department and said: "During the last two years, Keith Fleming has done a tremendous job to develop the club's awareness of the importance of having a strong community programme. As a result, the chief executive and board of directors have fully supported the appointment of Keith and Tony as community development managers and Ben in a consultancy role with the aim of Exeter Chiefs making a significant impact in the local community and helping more people to participate in our sport."
The community department's plans for Super Saturdays will involve inviting up to 100 children to take part in rugby coaching and a behind-the-scenes tour of Sandy Park before settling down to watch the Chiefs in action. It is hoped the timely addition of the new 1,000-seater South West Communications Group Stand for the start of the season will attract more young supporters and families to Sandy Park.
The community department can be contacted at Exeter Chiefs by calling Keith on 07848 457005 or Tony on 07848 457006 or by clicking here.
The Community Chiefs is kindly sponsored by:
