Rob Hunter

NAME: Rob Hunter

DOB: 23/ 05/1972

BIRTHPLACE: Northumberland

JOB TITLE: Forwards Coach

DATE JOINED CHIEFS: 2013

ABOUT ROB: A former soldier and Royal Engineer Rob represented the Army and Combined Services between 1989-1996. 

With the advent of professionalism in club rugby, Rob turned pro with London Scottish, going on to win promotion with them into the Premiership in 1998. 

Two years later, the imposing forward moved to Northampton Saints. He would spent four seasons at Franklin's Gardens before retiring from the game to head up the new academy alongside current Chiefs Head Coach Ali Hepher.

In 2010, he joined the Rugby Football Union as Head Coach of England's Under-20s programme and under his guidance, the team won an unprecedented three successive U20 Six Nation titles, including a Grand Slam in 2011.

During his tenure as Under-20s coach, Hunter worked with a wealth of English rugby's young talent, including the likes of Owen Farrell, George Ford, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Matt Kvesic.

Keen for a new coaching challenge, Hunter departed the RFU role in 2013 and moved to the Chiefs, where his resumed his coaching partnership with Hepher. Taking on the role of Forwards Coach, it wasn't long before the former servicemen was helping his new club to their first piece of major silverware with Exeter lifting the 2014 LV= Cup with victory over Northampton Saints at Sandy Park.

Two further appearances in the Anglo-Welsh Cup finals would follow for the Chiefs, as would a first appearance in the Aviva Premiership final in 2016, where European champions Saracens proved too strong for the Devon club at English rugby HQ.

A year later, though, Hunter was again part and parcel of the Chiefs coaching team who guided their side back to Twickenham for another Premiership Final where, on this occasion, they emerged victorious, defeating rivals Wasps in extra-time.

Now, a trusty lieutenant in Baxter's coaching set-up alongside former club-mate Ali Hepher and the likes of Ricky Pellow, Julian Salvi, Haydn Thomas and Gareth Steenson, the Chiefs brains trust has continued to deliver on all fronts. Hunter has been at the heart and soul of the much-vaunted Exeter pack and it was his input that helped the Chiefs to record an historic double in 2020, when the club lifted both the English and European titles in the same season.

His close work in developing players has also helped the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tomas Francis, Alec Hepburn, Jonny Hill, Ben Moon, Sam Simmonds and Harry Williams all make their mark on the international stage.