Rowe hails 'fantastic occasion'

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Rugby Club chief executive and chairman Tony Rowe OBE described Saturday's open top bus parade through the city as a "fantastic occasion".

Thousands lined the streets as two vintage buses carried the Chiefs squad, coaches, management and directors from St James' Park to the Guildhall to celebrate the club's achievement of lifting the LV= Cup.

Rob Baxter's side landed their first major silverware in the club's 143-year history when they recently overcame rivals Northampton Saints 15-8 on their own Sandy Park turf.

To herald the achievement of the club, the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Rachel Lyons (pictured) hosted a civic reception for the Chiefs, whilst the main roads of the City Centre were closed to allow the two buses to take to the packed streets.

Not since 2010, when the Chiefs gained promotion into the Aviva Premiership with victory over Bristol, had Exeter rugby fans witnessed such scenes. On that occasion, crowds flocked to salute their heroes, but this latest outing surpassed even that memorable day.

"The victory parade has been a fantastic occasion," said Rowe. "Four years ago we had one and I told the guys then to make the most of it because you won't do it again.

"This is just brilliant. The cup win rather snuck up on us a little bit because we lost to Bath in the pool matches and we thought that was us out of it, but then it all came together in the end."

Rowe added: "I don't think at the time I realised the significance of what we done. There are only three pieces of silverware you can win in the Premiership - the LV= Cup, the Premiership itself or the Heineken/Amlin Cup and we are working our way up.

"In a recent foolish, drunken moment, I did commit us to winning the Heineken Cup within the next five years, but I think in time we will do it. We are not in a hurry, but we will get to where we want to go."

Indeed, the true magnitude of Exeter's latest achievement was underlined to Rowe during Saturday's parade.

"I was stood talking with Rob for quite a bit of the journey and because you are in the middle of it all the time at the rugby club, you don't realise the impact you are having," continued Rowe.

"It is just fantastic to see all these people come along, and it's not just rugby fans, I'm overwhelmed with it really. A reception like today is really good for the players as well.

"In one of the interviews with our captain, Dean Mumm, the day after we had won the cup, somebody said to him about winning the cup, and he said he had never won a cup before, and that made it sink home to me, that winning a cup is quite a significant achievement.

"It had not been done by us for 140 years, so it can't be easy, can it?

"And to do it at home as a fairytale as well. It was as if it was meant to happen."