About us
What is Exeter Chiefs Academy?
Exeter Chiefs offers comprehensive education and rugby training designed to help learners excel in the sport. This program is open to both male and female players aged 16 to 18. Our goal is to nurture and develop young talent into outstanding rugby players, contributing to the success and prestige of Exeter Chiefs and the sport in our region.
Our Vision
Create an Academy that forges elite players and outstanding practitioners, setting a standard of excellence and delivering a lasting legacy for the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club.
Our Mission
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy is dedicated to developing local talent to become the best version of themselves. Through exceptional training, development and support, our Academy teams will strive for excellence both on and off the field, embodying caring, commitment and passion and bringing their best to our club and region. While providing education and welfare to produce home-grown talent for sustained success.
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy is one of the 11 regional academies recognised by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The academy’s regional boundaries include Devon and Cornwall, providing a structured pathway for talented young players within these areas.
Pathway
The male pathway is governed by the Professional Game Partnership (PGP) and is delivered through a close collaboration between the RFU and Premiership Rugby.
Responsibility for the elite player development sits with the Premiership academy system, ensuring a direct alignment with the highest levels of the professional game. This structure places the academy at the top of the development pyramid.
The primary purpose of each Premiership academy is to identify, develop and produce players capable of progression to:
Premiership Rugby
England representative programmes
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy plays a vital role in developing the next generation of elite rugby talent, providing a clear pathway from grassroots to professional rugby.
Since being awarded RFU Academy status in 2008, the Academy has produced many internationals at all levels from the U18s through to full England and British Lions.
Operating across Devon and Cornwall, the Academy is supported by a full-time team of dedicated staff and a network of established academy bases, ensuring players receive high-quality coaching, education and support.
Strong partnerships with Exeter College and Truro College - both competing in the RFU ACE League - provide further development opportunities, with Academy staff based on site.
At Post-18 level, the pathway is strengthened through a close relationship with the University of Exeter whose teams compete in BUCS competitions, alongside opportunities for players to gain experience in the National Leagues.
The club is proud of its Academy’s impact and excited about the role it will continue to play in delivering success, both on and off the field.
Objectives
Elite Home-Grown Local Players to Become the Stars of the Future
Legacy of Academy Players representing Exeter Chiefs
Aligned and Robust Management Business Structure
Accelerating the Academy and club into a high-performance market leader in the delivery and management production across the multifaceted departments.
Evolve Strong Partnerships and Stakeholders Relationships
Within an already established culture and support base, the aim is to create sustainable systems and greater associations with powerful partners.
Retain and Recruit Staff that Fully Support and Drive our Ambitions
Placing good people at the heart of our strategy. People are omnipotent - support them.
Strategic Objectives
Over the five-year period, the academy will aim to:
Produce a sustainable pipeline of elite players progressing into the senior squad.
Strengthen regional talent identification networks across Devon and Cornwall.
Provide development environment supported by sports science, coaching expertise and high-performance player welfare systems.
Build strong partnerships with schools, grassroots clubs and educational institutions.
Develop a highly skilled workforce capable of delivering world-class athlete development programmes.
Add player production value and be recognised as development club over a recruitment club.
Add value and recognition to supporters and commercial sponsors that attract and improve overall club success. The Academy to be evaluated not only on cost but on asset creation.
Core Values
The Academy culture will be guided by 6 key values:
Commitment - Players and staff demonstrate dedication to improvement and excellence.
Respect - Respect for teammates, coaches, opponents and the wider rugby community.
Integrity - Operating with honesty, professionalism and accountability.
Development - A focus on continuous learning and improvement.
Community - Representing and strengthening rugby within the Southwest region.
Go Get IT - Absolute motivated individuals making the most of the opportunities in front of them.
Our Academy Staff
ROB GIBSON
Academy Manager
MARC DIBBLE
Assistant Academy Manager/Academy Safeguarding Lead
ALI HEPHER
Academy Performance Coach / ACDO
BEN HAWLEY
Academy Coach
JACK PERRY
Exeter University Strength & Condition/Transition Coach
DANIEL JOHNSTONE
Strength & Conditioning Coach
TOM RAWLINGS
Academy Coach
DOM THORNE
Lead Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach
LACHLAN SURRIDGE
Strength & Conditioning Coach
MAL ROBERTS
Academy Coach
SAM GILDER
Exeter University Strength & Conditioning Coach
HARRY THIRLAWAY-PRICE
Lead Academy Physio
AARON JARVIS
Academy Coach
DAVY MORGAN
Physiotherapist/Strength & Conditioning Coach
ANA GREEN
Physiotherapist
CHARLIE LEVICK
Academy Coach
RICHARD HODGES
Academy Education Advisor/University of Exeter Coach
TOMMY JERMYN
University Sports Therapist
JOE FOREY
Lead Academy Analyst
ZOE WILLMOTT
Academy Administrator
International Honours
Exeter Chiefs Academy is continually striving to improve its value and delivery with robust support from the CEO, Board and Director of Rugby. The increased involvement into structures, player development has enabled further ongoing strategy to produce a high calibre player and person.
The pathway between Devon & Cornwall and its established partners has been designed to provide a continuous curriculum and personal development programme for our homegrown players, on and off the field.
Rob Gibson