Exeter Chiefs partner up with Prostate Cancer UK after CEO Tony Rowe’s diagnosis

Exeter Chiefs have teamed up with Prostate Cancer UK to save lives through rugby this season following the diagnosis of CEO Tony Rowe CBE and death of club legend Robin Cowling.

Rowe was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2023, while Cowling passed away from the disease in August. It prompted club stalwart Rowe, 78, to tell his story for the first time, and urge Chiefs fans – and the wider rugby community - to better understand their risk of a disease that affects one in eight men – the equivalent to two men in every scrum.

It was a trip to the pub that triggered Rowe’s own diagnosis, as a chance conversation with a friend raised a red flag and persuaded him to have a PSA blood test.

And Rowe believes talking is the key to raising more awareness of the most common cancer in the UK – and that starts with Chiefs fans.

“I consider myself one of the lucky ones,” he said. “I think the problem is men don't talk about it, do we? And if I'd not been in a pub and had a beer and had a conversation with my mate, I would have just put up with standing in the middle of the night, standing there for 10 minutes, desperately wanted to pee and nothing happening.”

Rowe’s friend had been diagnosed following similar symptoms, so he went to see his GP and after a range of tests, was diagnosed.

He said: “I felt lucky there was a good chance they had caught it in time. But I just wanted to get on with the treatment.

“I started radiotherapy in July 2023 and for a month, every morning I had a 9am appointment so I could come to work afterwards. It was OK to start with, but by the end of the end of the month it was awful. But my view is I'm still alive.

“For the past three years I’ve had an injection in the stomach every quarter, and my PSA has receded now and it's down to 0.03, which is almost non-existent.”

He added: "Prostate cancer affects one in eight guys and thousands die ever year. If you add in the senior academy boys, we've probably got about 80 guys here, right? Ten of them will be diagnosed. That’s shocking.

“We don't seem to talk about prostate cancer at all in rugby. Are we too embarrassed to. Thousands of men are dying of this disease. For God's sake, let's talk about it.”

Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common cancer, affecting thousands of men every year. The disease often doesn’t have symptoms. That’s why it’s important for men to know their risk and what they can do about it.

As part of the season-long campaign, Prostate Cancer UK will team up with Chiefs to save lives though rugby, raising awareness of the risk of the disease. Those include men over 50, those with a family history of prostate cancer or Black men, who are at higher risk. But it’s a disease that is treatable if caught early. Prostate Cancer UK have an award-winning online risk checker, which takes just 30 seconds, and the club will be promoting that to their fans.

There will also be awareness posters around the ground, and messaging on the club’s big screen. England star Ethan Roots and club stalwart Jack Yeandle have already pledged their support. The Investec Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais on 9 January will be a dedicated day of action for the charity.

The club are also selling boxer short bundles, made by OddBalls, with £5 going to Prostate Cancer UK with every purchase.

In the South West, more than 1,200 men die from prostate cancer every year on average. More than 56,000 men are living with prostate cancer in the region, three-and-a-half times the capacity of Sandy Park.

Rowe continued: “I’m really pleased to be working Prostate Cancer UK. If you look at the demographics of some of our fans here, the majority are 50-plus and they are the people at most danger. But Black men [1 in 4] are also more susceptible to diagnosis as well.

“So many people are unaware until it’s too late. Men like Sir Chris Hoy. I want men to better understand their risk because if you get diagnosed early enough, they can grab hold of it and treat it. If it spreads further, it will have you.”

In recent times legendary British & Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan and former Scotland duo Kenny Logan and Craig Chalmers have opened up about their prostate cancer diagnoses. Red Roses Rugby World Cup winner Alex Matthews is also an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK after her dad was diagnosed.

One man always close to Rowe’s thoughts is former Chiefs coach and team manager Cowling.

He continued: “Robin started working with me as a forwards coach in 1998, back in the Ian Bremner days. He was a lovely man and when I talked to him 18 months ago, he said he’d gone in for a knee operation and in the pre-op, they told him he was riddled with cancer. His PSA was 3,000. It had gone down six months ago, but sadly he died recently.

“I had already decided before then that we could do something. I've got a few lads that have volunteered to be involved. Prostate Cancer UK are coming on board with us and we're going to shout loud to all men, to know their risk and go and get tested.”

Prostate Cancer UK fundraising and health strategy director Chiara De Biase said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Exeter Chiefs this season and this lifesaving partnership will show the power of men talking and looking out for each other.

“One in eight men will get prostate cancer, and your risk doubles if you’re Black, so most of us will know someone living with or after the disease. It’s curable if found early, but it’s also a complex disease that leaves many feeling confused about the right path to take. Men need clubs like Exeter Chiefs in their corner, and at Prostate Cancer UK we are here to help men at every step of their journey from diagnosis to treatment and with what comes next.

“As the UK's biggest public funder of prostate cancer research, we're also proud to be powering the breakthroughs that will make screening a reality and create better treatments with fewer side effects - giving our dads, brothers and mates the best chance of living longer, healthier lives. Everything we do is powered by donations from our supporters and the tireless work of researchers, advocates, volunteers and organisations and sporting clubs, like Exeter Chiefs. So, a huge thank you to them for working with us to build a world where no man dies from prostate cancer.”