Baxter named as Chiefs head coach

New head coach Rob Baxter used to captain the Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs have promoted Rob Baxter to the role of head coach at Devon's top rugby club.

Former Chiefs skipper Baxter had been acting coach at Sandy Park since the sacking of Pete Drewett in late March.

Baxter now leads a new coaching team that includes Cornwall-based former England prop Robin Cowling.

Exeter failed to gain promotion from National One last season, finishing runners-up to Leeds after losing several key games.

Baxter told BBC Radio Devon: "I think you've got to be careful when everything becomes about promotion all the time.

"What you've got to establish, especially within my role as head coach, is that we get all of the right processes in place that allow us a good opportunity to do well in the play-off structure.

"We'll establish some very sound practices within the squad that make us very hard to beat, give us opportunity to score lots of points and get us used to playing in difficult pressure situations."