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Hepher leaves Exeter by mutual consent after 16 years

Ali Hepher Getty Images

Ali Hepher had been part of Exeter's coaching set up for 16 years

Long-serving Exeter Chiefs coach Ali Hepher has left the Premiership club by mutual consent.

The 50-year-old had been suspended from his role as backs and attack coach last month in the wake of Exeter's club-record 79-17 loss at Gloucester.

The former Northampton fly-half had been part of Exeter's coaching set-up since 2009 when he ed then newly-appointed boss Rob Baxter.

He was promoted to head coach in 2017, but was demoted earlier this year as Chiefs suffered their worst season since promotion to the Premiership in 2010.

Exeter are ninth in England's top flight having lost 12 of their 16 matches.

Hepher had been due to take on a role transitioning players between the academy and first team this summer.

Director of rugby Baxter has refused to comment on whether former Newcastle boss Dave Walder will take over Hepher's role - despite being pictured in a club photograph during a training session last week.

Under Hepher's time at the club Exeter won two Premiership titles and the 2020 European Champions Cup.

His exit comes soon after Rob Hunter - who succeeded him as head coach - also left.

"Ali has contributed immensely to Exeter Rugby Club over a long period of sustained success," chairman Tony Rowe said in a statement.

"His influence on our coaching environment and playing culture has been considerable and I would like to wish him all the best for the future."

Baxter added: "Working alongside Ali for so many seasons has been a genuine privilege.

"His insight, energy, and ion for the game have helped drive this club forward in countless ways and I know everyone here will me in thanking him for all he's done."

'Working relationship broken down' - Analysis

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport England's Exeter reporter

Ali Hepher's departure brings the curtain down on one of club rugby's most successful coaching teams in recent times.

He, Rob Baxter and skills coach Ricky Pellow masterminded Exeter's promotion to the top flight, and while few gave the Chiefs any hope of survival, under their guidance they survived and thrived.

Hunter would the staff in 2012 and under that group of coaches Exeter reached six successive Premiership finals between 2016 and 2021 - winning in 2017 and 2020.

The pinnacle came in 2020 when Exeter were crowned European Champions Cup winners - the last non-French side to win the northern hemisphere's biggest club title.

But as key players have left the club due to Covid-19 induced budget cuts, so Exeter's stock has fallen.

Three successive seventh placed finishes have been followed by a disastrous 2024-25 campaign.

They lost all of their Champions Cup matches and have won just four Premiership games all season - the wins over Saracens in January and Northampton last week came when their opponents did not field their star players.

While Baxter still speaks highly of Hepher it has become clear that the working relationship has broken down - Tony Rowe said there had been a "clear disconnect" between Exeter Chiefs players and coaching staff.

It is expected that Dave Walder will take over Hepher's role as attack coach as Exeter look to bounce back from their worst season in recent memory.

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