Rob Baxter is widely considered one of the greatest bosses in the history of Gallagher Premiership and has made some outstanding signings over the years.
Not only has he achieved a remarkable track record of success, but he's also known for his exceptional player development and his team's exciting and innovative brand of rugby.
Nonetheless, it's impossible to maintain a perfect record in the transfer market after spending more than a decade at a rugby club.
Even the best in the business are prone to making mistakes, and here are some of the worst signings he's made. It's worth noting that a few of the players on this list have gone on to become stars after their disappointing stints at Sandy Park.
1. Niko Matawalu
First on the list is Niko Matawalu, the Fijian wizard who arrived at Chiefs from Bath with high expectations following his impressive performance at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Unfortunately, off-field issues limited the scrum-half/wing's opportunities, and he only played once for the Exeter Braves in December 2016 before departing for Glasgow Warriors, where he quickly became a regular in the starting lineup.
2. Nemani Nadolo
Signed for the club 11th Jan 2011 but was registered under his Aussie passport and therefore cost the club 2 points and £5,000 for fielding too many overseas players. He was then convicted of drink driving, banned from the road for 18 months, and released by the club in May 2011.
He failed to score a single try in his four appearances for the Chiefs. His career has done nothing but rise ever since so that's nice. Hopefully, he'll do much better with Leicester Tigers after signing with them for the 2020/21 season.
3. Peter Kimlin
In 2013, the Wallabies forward signed a short-term contract to join the Exeter Chiefs during the 2010/11 season in order to get game-time prior to bid for a spot in Australia's Rugby World Cup squad, having missed 18 months of action with nerve damage to his shoulder.
However, his stay in the UK with the Chiefs was cut short after suffering a knee injury in training with Exeter following a collision with teammate Paul McKenzie.
#4. Aaron Hinkley
The promising England U20 back-row player was signed from Gloucester in 2020 as a highly-anticipated talent for the future. Despite his exciting potential, he suffered four consecutive losses in his four appearances for the club before moving on to Northampton Saints. However, he recently left Franklin's Gardens by mutual agreement due to reported clashes with the staff and an alleged attitude problem, believed to be the primary cause of the disagreement.
Aaron Hinkley of Northampton Saints during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints at Kingsholm on 3 December. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#5. Chrysander Botha
The 26-year-old winger arrived at Sandy Park with a big reputation after impressing for Namibia, scoring seven tries in his six games prior to the switch. Never looking comfortable, he scored just one try in just six games during his two-year stint at the club. However, he did make a significant impact off the field with his fantastic community work.
