Tom Hayes

A sad loss to the game and a very sad loss to the Chiefs, former captain Tom Hayes has announced his enforced retirement today due to not recovering fully from a back op. Altho he never achieved what he might have with Ireland, Tom Hayes led the club thru our most important period in recent history - promotion from the championship, consolidation in the premiership and qualification for the Heino.

Thank you Tom  

Terrific pro. Represented Exe very well.
Do you know the specifics of his injury?

Dr_G, I don't, I'm afraid. I'll see what I can find out tho

So the late night announcement wasn't so good obviously. All the best to him and a nice tribute As. I am sure he will be involved in some way with the club still, if he chooses to be.

Sad news for him and the game, a real clubman (in the best sense of the word).

Are there many of the old championship guard left? With him and Baxter gone there will be a need for new leaders to step up I would think?

Bathman_in_London wrote:Sad news for him and the game, a real clubman (in the best sense of the word).

Are there many of the old championship guard left? With him and Baxter gone there will be a need for new leaders to step up I would think?

Not many, Bathman, but still a few:

Departures/retirees = Neil Clarke (Oyonnax), Si Alcott (rtd), Tom Hayes (rtd), Richie Baxter (rtd), Bryan Rennie (Brizzle), Foster (Jersey), Nic Sestaret (rtd), Paul McKenzie (rtd), Chad Slade (Oyonnax)
Still around = Sturgess, Moon, Tui, Hanks, Scaysbrook, Johnson, Thomas, Steenson, Dollman, Jess, etc.

Ah Jasus. Yah gotta love "Tommy the calf" Great bloke. Hope he gets a decent career outside (Playing) rugby.

Quite a few then, I guess most of them were the younger players back then. With Rob Baxter in charge at least there will always be that connection to the old days, very important for the club I think.

A vastly underrated player outside of Exeter. How I would love a player likes Hayes in the Gloucester engine room at present!

All the best to him and as asbo points out, he'll have some great memories to cherish.

All the best to Tom. He captained Chiefs through the promotion season and through into an impressive first Premiership season without any star signings.

I was with Asbo at the last game of that season v Wasps, and I seem to recall that Hayes was presented with the Supporters Player of the Season award after the game.

Hound , excellent memory, sir - we did indeed toast the fella on that occasion

CHIEFS SIDE TO PLAY HARLEQUINS

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Henry Slade
11 Jack Arnott
10 Ceri Sweeney (capt)
9 Will Chudley
1 Ben Moon
2 Greg Bateman
3 Alex Brown
4 Romana Graham
5 James Hanks
6 Don Armand
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Kai Horstmann

16 Jack Innard
17 Kieran Davies
18 Carl Rimmer
19 Will Carrick-Smith
20 James Phillips
21 Stu Townsend
22 Tom Hendrickson
23 Sam Blanchet

Several big guns returning from injury being given game time

19-5 A handy victory for a completely fresh team of youngsters, players coming back from injury, and squad players being given game time. Will take that

Sounds as tho Jack Nowell is getting back towards his best, and Luke Arscott is still one of the most under-rated FBs in the AP. Predictably, Scays played like an angry man!!  

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BATH

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Jason Shoemark (capt)
11 Tom James
10 Henry Slade
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Ben Moon
2 Chris Whitehead
3 Carl Rimmer
4 Romana Graham
5 James Hanks
6 Don Armand
7 James Scaysbrook
8 James Phillips

16 Greg Bateman
17 Kieran Davies
18 Alex Brown
19 Will Carrick-Smith
20 Joel Conlon
21 Will Chudley
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Ian Whitten

Strong side, with a handful of first team regulars added to the mix

Congrats, Bath, a good win from a side that wanted it more. Can't believe how slowly we started, and then when we got going it looked like some of the players had only met on the team bus for the first time - can't afford that against a strong team

I suspect the re-match in the league in a few weeks time will be far tighter, I was a little surprised to be honest at how long it took Exe to get into the game. It was nice playing in dry conditions for a change too, good to see the backs get the ball and have a go with it.

Nowell and Slade both looked good for you lot