Exeter Chiefs statement: Club confirms sale of asset

The statement read: "The sale of the shares mean Mr Rowe now has a majority stake of Sandy Park Hotel Limited moving forward, but that the Rugby Club itself still maintains a sizeable percentage of the shares themselves.

"The fee paid for the shares by Mr Rowe not only provides an injection of capital to keep cash flow going, but will also help service substantial debts accrued by Exeter Rugby Club due to the impact of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

"Part of the resolution was also that directors shall use their best endeavours to retain at least 26% shareholding in Sandy Park Hotel Limited and also prior to any disposal of shares they will likewise use their best endeavours to enter into a Shareholding Agreement to ensure that in the event of the company at any time selling a part or whole of a minority holding in Sandy Park Hotel Limited, no discount shall be applied to the value or the shares on account of their being from a minority holding.

"The club will be making no further comment on the matter."

The potential departure of at least one club stalwart and as many as five next summer means it could be the end of an era at Sandy Park.

Another player out of contract is hooker Cowan-Dickie.

The forward continues to feature regularly within the England ranks. Since making his Test debut in 2015, he has helped his country to win the Grand Slam in 2016; he was part of Eddie Jones’ squad that got to the final of the Rugby World Cup against South Africa in Japan in 2019 and helped the Red Rose to win the Autumn Nations Cup final against France.

According to The Rugby Paper, 'he has been speaking to the Top 14 sides Montpellier and Clermont Auvergne, while Bristol Bears have made him an offer,'

Following media reports in 2021 that the Scotland and British & Irish Lions back was looking at moving away from Sandy Park at the end of the current campaign, the 29-year-old responded to these claims with a short and concise statement.

He wrote: "Further to recent speculation about my future, I'm happy to say that I will be honouring my contract at Exeter Chiefs and I am massively excited about the future. My family and I are very settled and I'm keen to win more titles here."

However, with the salary cap decreased and Hogg our of contract in 2023, the fullback would have to take a payout to stay at Sandy Park.

The Rugby Paper report the star winger’s CV is currently doing the rounds in the French Top 14 with the 29-year-old out of contract at Sandy Park at the end of the season.

Responding to the speculation, Nowell has revealed he’d love to stay at Sandy Park, but added he must always put his ‘family first’.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, he said: “I won’t go to another Premiership side,”

“I want to stay at Exeter, but I’m out of contract, there’s stuff going on with the salary cap and I’ve got a growing family. And I’ll be 30 after the World Cup. I’m in talks with the club at the moment; ideally I’d stay but I’m not too sure what’s going on. The first thing for me is my family.

“My only option if I’m in England is to stay. France, Japan… I went out to Japan for the World Cup – it was an amazing country. I’d like to give Japan a go over France but, obviously, anything could happen.

“There will potentially be a time when I go somewhere else but my roots are here and I’d always end up back here. At the same time, I am quite ‘out there’ as a person and I like my family to be like that so, if I’m given the chance to experience something else with them, then I have to take it.

"The flipside is, if I can get stuff sorted here and I’m still in a position where I can look after the family. I love the club dearly and my main option would be to stay, if I can get something sorted.”

The number 8 has already confirmed this will be his final season with the Chiefs as a move to Top 14 heavyweights Montpellier has already been agreed.

“I know my decision will stop my England ambitions, but there is still a long way to go this season. Right now, I will be doing everything in my power to play well for Exeter and whatever happens with selection after that, I’ll know I have done my best to try and be included,” Simmonds told the Exeter Chiefs website.

“Making the move away from Exeter was a tough decision for me, but I’m fully focused on playing well for the club this season. The love I have for this team and for the club as a whole, it wasn’t easy but there comes a time when you have to make big decisions.

“In the past, I have stayed here but now this is an exciting move for me. I’ve got a young family and the move really appeals to me. It’s a new challenge and I have always spoken about how as you get older, you have to try new experiences. I’m a Devon boy, who has only lived in Devon, but I want to go out with a bang at Exeter and keep pushing hard for England.”

Having failed to break into the England set-up, brother of Sam, Joe could be tempted by an overseas move if the right sort of offer lands on his lap.

Such was his growing influence within the side that in January 2020, Director of Rugby Rob Baxter made Simmonds captain for the Champions Cup trip to Glasgow Warriors.

By the end of the disrupted season, he would not only lead the Chiefs into two major finals against Racing 92 and Wasps, but he would lift both cups alongside club captain Jack Yeandle.

That double triumph was rewarded on an even higher scale when he was given an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.