Black Knight Rugby: New Exeter owners can make Chiefs 'best club in the world'

Exeter Chiefs boss Tony Rowe has expressed confidence that a takeover by American investors can lead to the side becoming the best club in the world. Rowe, who has bankrolled the club for 25 years, will remain chief executive and be part of a three-man executive board alongside Cannae's vice-chairman Bill Foley and chief executive Ryan Caswell.

The new money from the takeover will be directed towards funding Exeter's playing squad with new players targeted for the upcoming season. "We're not going to put it into any capital project we're going to put it in around our squad," Rowe said. "Hopefully next season we'll be able to spend up to the salary cap."

Rowe revealed that the club has been in discussions with Black Knight since before Christmas, allowing director of rugby Rob Baxter and himself to recruit over the previous two to three months. Despite not previously maximising the Premiership's salary cap, Rowe acknowledged the squad's quality while identifying areas for improvement. "We've got a massively talented squad but we've got a few guys we've had to let go. We're bringing in a few more guys if we lack anything at the moment it's experience and our trip to Twickenham a couple weeks ago probably showed that and we lack a bit of strength in depth."

The takeover will also benefit Exeter's women's team. The Chiefs reached the semi-finals of Premiership Women's Rugby this season after finishing third, losing to eventual champions Saracens. Since formation in 2020, the women have yet to win a domestic title, though they reached back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023.

Rowe emphasised the partnership's broader support for women's rugby. "Cannae and Black Knight Rugby are committed totally to supporting women's rugby which I think is great. This will actually probably enable us to put a bit more money into the ladies side because the reality is when the cake is only so big to cut up it's been a challenge."