Official Club Statement

By Mark Stevens
9/4/17

Exeter Rugby Club would like to thank the patience and co-operation of supporters from both the Chiefs and Bristol Rugby Club following yesterday’s disrupted Aviva Premiership encounter at Sandy Park.

A mid-morning accident on the M5, close to the stadium, saw the Highways Agency shut the motorway in both directions for a period of time, causing long delays to travellers heading to the game.

That, coupled with the planned closure of Bridge Road for roadworks, meant many supporters, match officials and the Bristol team themselves, endured a lengthy journey to the match.

Following regulations outlined by Premiership Rugby, Exeter Rugby Club in consultation with the match officials and representatives of both clubs agreed – under the governing bodies rules – that the game would kick-off at the later time of 3:15pm or 45 minutes after Bristol’s arrival at the stadium.

Tony Rowe OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby Club, said: “We are aware that a large number of fans attending yesterday’s game were caught up in the lengthy traffic delays and that they may have missed some or all of the match.

“Whilst this is not an ideal situation of any sorts, both ourselves and Bristol – once the match officials had arrived – were then forced to abide by the regulations laid out by Premiership Rugby in regards to the staging of the match.

“As a club we did raise with Devon County Council previously that closing Bridge Road on the day when both ourselves and Exeter City Football Club were playing home games was not in the best interest of either club.

“That closure, coupled with the accident and subsequent clear-up operation on the M5, meant that two of the main routes to the stadium were effectively out of action.  We will be speaking to the necessary authorities about the matter in the coming days to ensure that should something similar occur in the future, supporters do not suffer in the same manner as they did on Saturday.”