Rowe relishing Euro return

By Stuart James

Tony Rowe is relishing Exeter Chiefs’ return to top European action this evening and is quietly confident the Devon side can get out of their pool.

Chiefs open their Champions Cup pool two campaign in Wales with a trip to Ospreys knowing a win at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium will give them the perfect start to their European campaign.

With French tests against Bordeaux-Begles and Clermont Auvergne to come, progress will not be easy, but chief executive Rowe is relishing the challenge and is hopeful of reaching the quarter-finals.

“On paper, I think we stand a good chance of doing well in the group,” Rowe said. “We should do well against Ospreys, who we have this weekend, then we have the trip to Bordeaux and we should do well there.

“Clermont will be a big challenge for us, but we have been there before and the guys don’t tend to get stage fright on the big stage. I think we will fare well and I hope we can sort the out, but I am a bit of a realist! But we could just sneak through to the quarter-finals.”

While their contemporaries are packed with stars from the international stage, Exeter’s squad is less so, although many of their young starlets have aspirations to succeed at that level.

To do that, Rowe says this is the perfect platform to showcase their skills and present themselves to whoever is chosen to be the deposed Stuart Lancaster’s successor at Rugby HQ.

“Those lads are really at the top of their game right now,” Rowe said. “I am not going to get involved in a conversation as to why they weren’t involved for England, but I am sure they are looking forward to the European games and will be very eager to show people what they are made of.

“I am sure that they will relish coming up against Clermont and some of the world stars that are in that side.”

Such is the quality within the Exeter ranks this season that many are tipping the Devon club to finish in the Premiership’s top four this season and qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

“Well... I’m not sure about that!” was Rowe’s response to the claim. “I’m still targeting the top six!

“I am happy with that, but the lads have ambitions of making the top four.

“I am someone that doesn’t like to be disappointed, so I’d be happy with a place in the top six.

“It is just fantastic really. We are sitting second in the Premiership and are about to play some of the top teams in Europe. It’s a great journey that we are on.”