Little Big Chief has a dream to travel around the Rugby World! Can you help him?
Little Big Chief would love to visit all the countries of the world, especially the Rugby playing countries and we want him to be happy and fulfil his ambitions, so we have set him free.
To check on his welfare/if he is washing and eating, etc. and to see how he is getting on, photos of him on his travels would be greatly appreciated.
Little Big Chief's ultimate dreams are to be at the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019 and South Africa in 2021 for the British and Irish Lions tour.
Two of Little Big Chiefs have been released (one in UK, one in Germany), lets see which one makes it to the RWC first. God speed Little Big Chiefs.
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) are an English Rugby Union club based in Exeter, Devon, that are the current English Premiership champions (2016/7). The premiership is the top level of domestic rugby union in England. They also compete in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and European Rugby Cup competitions.
Exeter Rugby Club was founded in 1871 and played its first match in 1873 against St. Luke's College. In 1890, winning the Devon Cup. In 1905, Exeter Rugby Club hosted the first match played by New Zealand on English soil / in the Northern Hemisphere at the County Ground against a Devon County XV. It was from that game that New Zealand became known as the "All Blacks".
When league rugby started, Exeter were initially placed in the Devon leagues.
Professional era
In the 1990s, Exeter Rugby Club turned semi-professional and changed their name from Exeter Rugby Club to Exeter Chiefs in 1999 after previously being referred to as the Chiefs in the 1930s. In 2016, the club's fans were called upon to change their behaviour over concerns that it could be considered an offensive appropriation of Native American culture. Often their teams at the time were composed of members and former members of the British Army.
In 1993 and 1995, Exeter reached the quarterfinals of the Pilkington Cup before being knocked out by English Premiership opponents Leicester Tigers and London Wasps.
In 1997, Exeter were promoted into the Premiership 2 for the first time from National League 1. Regularly finishing in the top half of the table. In 2005, Exeter finished second in the league, missing out on promotion by four points behind Bristol Rugby. The next season, they moved from the County Ground to Sandy Park due to a need for modern facilities that included corporate hospitality. In 2008 and 2009 they again finished in second place and again missed out on promotion by finishing behind Northampton Saints and Leeds Carnegie.
Premiership
In 2009, National Division One was reorganised into the Championship with playoffs. During the regular league season, Exeter finished second behind Bristol. Beating Bedford Blues and Nottingham RFC in the playoffs, before facing Bristol in the two legged final. Exeter won 9–6 in the first leg at Sandy Park and then won 29–10 at Bristol's Memorial Stadium in the second leg to win promotion to the Premiership for the very first time.
In their first season in the Premiership, they finished eighth despite a two-point deduction and a £5,000 fine for fielding too many overseas players. They also made their debut in the European Challenge Cup, making it to the quarterfinals where they lost to Stade Français. In 2011, they finished fifth in the Premiership, which permitted them to play in the Heineken Cup for the first time. In their first season in the Heineken Cup, they were drawn against French Clermont Auvergne, Irish Leinster Rugby and Welsh Scarlets in the group stage. They finished the group third with nine points ahead of Scarlets. In 2014, Exeter Chiefs won their first major rugby trophy after they defeated Northampton Saints in the Anglo-Welsh Cup 15-8 at Sandy Park.
2015/16 Season
In the 2015/16 the Chiefs finished in second place in the Aviva Premiership entitling them to a home semi final in the Aviva Premiership, which was played against Wasps. They won the match 34-23 thanks to two penalty tries, tries from Ian Whitten and Dave Ewers as well as two penalties and four conversions from Gareth Steenson. This meant the Chiefs qualified to their first Aviva Premiership final. They lost 28-20 to champions Saracens despite tries from England and Lions international Jack Nowell and Jack Yeandle as well as 2 penalties and 2 conversions from Steenson.
The chiefs also reached the quarter final of the European Champions Cup, where they drew Wasps away. In a tight game, which they eventually lost 25-24 after Wasps, kicked a last-minute conversion.
2016/17 Season
Exeter Chiefs won the English Premiership for the first time by beating Wasps in the final 23 - 20. The game finished 20-20 at full time with captain Steenson slotting a late penalty to take it to extra time. After extra time The chiefs landed their maiden Premiership title with another Steenson penalty 7 years after they won the Championship and promotion, where Steenson was once again pivotal.
Stadium
Exeter play their home games at Sandy Park, which is located on the outskirts of the city. The club moved from their previous home, the County Ground, in 2006 having played there regularly since 1905. In 2002, Exeter Chiefs started looking for a new stadium because they felt the County Ground was insufficient for growth. Despite concerns of opposition from traditionalists within the club, the motion to move was passed by 99% of the attendees at Exeter's annual general meeting. Sandy Park can accommodate 12,600 spectators, however, there are plans to increase this capacity to 20,600 with phase one having begun in early 2014.