Our Community Chiefs choose their favourite moments of 2025
After a year packed full of weekly school visits, summer camps and matchday experiences, our Exeter Chiefs community team have chosen their individual favourite moments of the year for 2025.
The team do pivotal work in our local area and across the South West. We'd like to thank them and all our school partners for their work this year in promoting the values of our game.
Here's to an even more enjoyable new year.
Head of community Tom Steer said: "Without a doubt, my highlight of the year has to be the amazing team that we have put together in the community department, who all help to deliver fantastic work across the south west."
Taz Bricknell, Chiefs women's player and community coach, said: "Going into a small primary school in Exeter to promote the women's Rugby World Cup stands out to me. Seeing how excited the young people were to watch and play the sport that I love most. They smashed their taster sessions outside in the sunshine and positive feedback was given from the school that a lot of the children were inspired to go and start playing rugby.
Steve Loader, Chiefs engage officer, said: "My highlight would have to be watching Elle, mother to one of our Engage pupils Rocco, talk about the impact the programme has had on her child at our recent Chiefs Foundation Christmas Lunch."
Andy Bassett, Chiefs engage volunteer, said: "Watching two students in particular, who arrived as 'hoods up', nervous, anxious and angry at the world, non-verbal youngsters blossom in our care. As a result of the efforts the engage programme put in, we watched them grow into engaging, respectful young men who are now doing very well back in the mainstream education system with a keen eye on employment opportunities in the future."
Dave Armstrong, community coach, said: "Throughout the build-up, during the tournament and post women's Rugby World Cup, there has been so much positivity around the whole game in our region. Seeing the girls and women's game growing when coaching at various locations has been one highlight for me. Though, a particular highlight was standing at the top of a hill at West Buckland School during our PREM Rugby Defender Cup that we organised recently and seeing over 1,000 young players, coaches and parents all enjoying being part of a great event."
Hope Rogers, Chiefs women's player and community coach, said: "Coaching at Exmouth half-term camp and meeting so many fabulous girls and then seeing them come so frequently to our women's home games. It makes me smile every time I see them after the game."
Angelique Aldworth, Chiefs engage co-ordinator, said: "Three parents messaged me this week to thank our 16+ programme for being there for their children. They said 'We don't know what we'd have done without you and the background work you do, you truly understanding the struggle we have daily with our neurodiverse teens'."
Jack Ballett, community coach, said: "Our residential camp is my highlight. Seeing over 60 rugby players enjoy three action-packed days and creating friendships with new faces so quickly. It was a real highlight of what we do as a community team!"
Kayleigh Priest, Chiefs women's player and community coach, said: "My favourite community moment was the girls-only camp in Exmouth with so many girls signed up and my Chiefs women teammates coming down to help coach and inspire them."
Nick Gillard, community coach, said: "Having spent my first six weeks coaching at Kentisbeare Primary School, to see a large percentage of them turn up to a matchday experience with Cullompton RFC to continue their rugby journey was fantastic! Additionally, we have one year six girl, Sienna, from Ipplepen Primary School whose attendance has improved on Fridays as that is the day we go into the school and she has developed a love of rugby."