Rowe relaxed ahead of final

Exeter Chiefs chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe OBE wants the club to become Europe's most successful side but insists there is no rush for them to achieve that goal.

Rowe has transformed the Chiefs from a steady amateur-era outfit to Aviva Premiership finalists across the course of a 23-year association with the Devon club.

He has instructed Exeter to throw everything at defending champions Saracens in Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham but is relaxed on the timescale for achieving European domination.

From promotion in 2010 to contesting the top-flight title six years on, Exeter have always championed continuity amid progress, and Rowe insists nothing will change on Saturday, whatever the result.

"Victory this weekend isn't a dream, we don't have dreams - sometimes you wake up from a dream to discover it's a nightmare," he said. "We don't have dreams, it's ambition. Our ambition here at the club is to be the best in England and eventually the best in Europe.

"We're in no hurry, we've got lots of time, there's no pressure. We have an opportunity this Saturday to do that, and it would be fantastic if we can pull it off. But if we don't it's not a problem. We're here for the long-haul and we're enjoying it.

Exeter's greatest success remains holding on to a rugby ethos fast fading in many areas of the professional game.

Head coach Rob Baxter's father John played more than 200 games for Exeter before taking on a series of administrative roles.

Current boss Baxter and his brother Richard both captained the Chiefs in their playing days and Rowe paid tribute to the community spirit the Baxters have engendered at the West Country club.

"I first arrived at the club in 1993 and when I went to the first game, the atmosphere, the heart of the club was there then," added Rowe. "Rob's father John as chairman was doing his utmost to keep it together, but they needed money. It was all there, really, and we've just worked to foster that spirit.

"One of our biggest challenges is to try to keep that. Rob's a big club man, and it's trying to keep it together, and as much as you can a real rugby club. A community rugby club is totally different from a professional rugby club, it has to be, but you've got to try to hang onto your roots, your ethos. Break Rob in half and you get Exeter Rugby Club, and the same for his whole family."