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'It took my breath away' - Exeter Chiefs Rob Baxter named personality of the year by rugby writers' club

By PA
Rob Baxter shows his emotion after Exeter Chiefs' Premiership final win over Wasps

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has been voted the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2020.

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Baxter succeeds South Africa’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi as holder of the Pat Marshall Memorial Award after masterminding the Chiefs’ Gallagher Premiership and European Champions Cup double last season.

The 49-year-old Devonian guided Exeter into the English top flight in 2010 and the club has built throughout the last decade, culminating in their final victories over Racing 92 and Wasps on successive weekends in October.

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Baxter follows in the footsteps of previous greats to have been acclaimed by the RUWC such as Gareth Edwards, Jonah Lomu, Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter, admitting “I feel in exalted company”.

The list of nominees in contention for 2020 also included referee centurion Nigel Owens, Pacific Islands rugby campaigner Dan Leo, Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and France scrum-half Antoine Dupont.

Baxter, who came out on top of a poll of the RUWC’s 250-plus members encompassing writers, photographers and broadcasters, was presented with the award at Sandy Park after the club’s annual dinner was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic

“Looking at some of the names who have been awarded this previously, I have to say I feel in exalted company,” Baxter said.

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“I don’t mind telling you it took my breath away when I was looking at the various people who have won this in the past – not just household names but world famous names. It’s a huge honour.

“I have to thank everybody at the club who has helped me on the path to the double championship we won last year and who has been a huge part in the success of Exeter.

“I’m the guy lucky enough to pick up a very prestigious award for the hard work of a lot of people.

“It’s a shame to have missed the rugby writers’ dinner – I’ve been told it’s a remarkable event! – but with the times as they are, we are all doing our best to see the positives in everything. I’d just like to thank everybody involved for voting for me to win this award.”

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Exeter became the fourth English club after Leicester, Wasps and Saracens to complete the double.

“It was an incredible year. It was a broken up and odd year, so different to anything else we’ve experienced in rugby,” Baxter said.

“After the restart we turned up like a team with something to prove and something to win. We showed that right through and we never wavered. We put in some outstanding performances.

“When you add it all up, it was an incredible few months. The end felt separate from the start, two seasons rolled into one.

“The first part of the season gave us an opportunity, the second part was all about taking it. That’s why it was such a remarkable season.”

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SK 29 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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