Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has urged his squad and supporters to remain calm despite a sticky start to the new domestic campaign, emphasizing that panic has no place at Sandy Park at this early stage of the season.
The Devon-based club experienced a challenging conclusion to the previous domestic term, reaching the Premiership final where they ultimately fell short against Northampton Saints in a hard-fought title decider at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. That formidable run to the showcase finale proved Exeter’s ability to compete at the absolute summit of English club rugby, establishing high expectations for the current campaign. However, the path forward has proven bumpy out of the gate, with the Chiefs yet to record a single victory in the fledgling stages of the season. Their struggles were compounded last week by a surprising loss at home to Gloucester, a result that left supporters questioning the team’s immediate trajectory.
Despite the back-to-back challenges and a pair of frustrating outcomes, including an earlier reverse at Bath, Baxter insists that there is no reason for widespread alarm within the camp. Speaking candidly about the early-season turbulence, the long-serving director of rugby pointed out that the marathon nature of the Premiership means long-term planning vastly outweighs short-term panic.
Addressing the media regarding his side’s defeat at Bath and their overall sluggish opening weeks, Baxter made it clear that premature anxiety could derail their longer-term ambitions. "I just don’t think we need to be so worried that we’ve got to get five points away at that to be competitive at the end of this season," he remarked, reinforcing his belief in a steady, methodical approach to the league table rather than chasing desperate remedies for early setbacks.
Baxter elaborated on his philosophical outlook, noting that chasing perfection through panic can often lead to unforced errors and a loss of identity on the pitch. "In a way, I’ll be worried that we think we have to get five points second game of the season to be competitive," he added, highlighting the immense psychological pressure that players would place upon themselves if they bought into early-season panic narratives.
Instead, the seasoned rugby leader wants his players to focus on the fundamental building blocks of performance that brought them so close to ultimate glory just a few months ago. The emphasis, according to Baxter, must remain squarely on weekly improvement, cohesive team execution, and the gradual accumulation of league points as winter approaches. "What I want us to do is go, ‘We play really well every week, we build our points score’, that’s what gets us where we need to be," Baxter explained.
Drawing inspiration from the resilience and grit that defined their previous campaign, Baxter believes the blueprint for turning their fortunes around is already well established within the squad. Last year’s journey to the Twickenham final was built on steady progression, tactical discipline, and an ability to peak at the right moments of the rugby calendar, rather than flawless perfection from the opening whistle. "We saw that last year – that’s what we’ve got to do again," he concluded, signaling a steadfast commitment to the processes that have historically made Exeter one of the most formidable and respected clubs in English rugby union.