Exeter Chiefs: Ali Hepher demotion not ‘knee-jerk reaction,’ says Rob Baxter

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says Ali Hepher’s demotion from his role as head coach was not a “knee-jerk reaction” to the club’s Premiership Rugby Cup final loss.

Hepher was replaced as head coach by forwards coach Rob Hunter last week, with Exeter enduring their worst season since being promoted to the top flight in 2010.

They have won just two Premiership matches all season, lost all their European Champions Cup ties and won just twice against top-flight sides in the cup before being thrashed 48-14 by Bath in the final earlier this month.

Hepher is acting as the club’s interim backs and attack coach for the rest of this season before taking on a new role helping transition academy players into the first team set-up.

“One thing Ali had already indicated to me was that, if the opportunity arose, he would love to get involved in that transition group and get back to some pure coaching,” Baxter told BBC Sport.

“But at the same time, if that opportunity didn’t arise he was going to look for other opportunities.

“I just felt with the break coming out of the Premiership Cup, with the opportunity now to rebuild almost into next season and what we can achieve over the end part of this season, the time was right now.”