Coaching trio sign on for 3 more years
Apr
Exeter Chiefs’ coaching team of Rob Baxter, Paddy Anson and Paul Larkin have signed three-year contracts that will see them at Sandy Park until the end of the 2010/20011 season.
Former club captain Baxter began coaching when Ian Bremner left the club midway through the 2005/06 season. He remained as forwards coach on the request of director of rugby Pete Drewett when the latter joined Exeter the following year. Baxter has also made the decision to end his role as the university’s 1st XV rugby coach to concentrate more of his efforts on Chiefs.
Ex-Marine and Chiefs’ strength and conditioning coach Anson was Drewett’s first signing when he arrived at the club. Former St Luke’s College student and rugby analysis expert Larkin returned to Exeter in December last year.
In the wake of Exeter Chiefs securing the runners-up spot in National League One on Saturday, Drewett said today: “I am delighted that we have managed to secure Rob, Paul and Paddy for three more seasons. As a coaching team, we have grown to respect each other immensely. I believe we have made progress during the last two years and in order for the club to achieve the things it wants to achieve, it important this nucleus of people, whose drive and ambition is huge, has the opportunity to fulfil its aims for the club.”
Drewett added: “Rob has done an outstanding coaching job at the university with the like of James Hanks, Stephen Bennett, Jason Luff and Adam Staniforth coming through the ranks as well as, more recently, Michael Rickner, Toby Freeman and Tom Hockedy. However, the demands of full-time rugby mean Rob is going to concentrate on the club from now on.
“Rob’s work ethic is immense and he spends hours behind the scenes ensuring the squad is fully prepared for all eventualities in a game.
“Paddy was my first signings when I came to the club two years ago. Our aim was always to get the club to be the fittest team in this league. Paddy has the full respect of the players and he has done an outstanding job.
“In a very short period of time, Paul has ensconced himself in the ethos of the club and has made a massive contribution to our success this season. I know all of the players were delighted to learn that he has agreed to stay with us for a further three years.”
