Exeter’s RAMM to host exhibition celebrating 150 years of Exeter Rugby Club

Published: 8 June 2022

Exeter City Council’s Royal Albert Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) is partnering with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club for the month-long showcase, which runs from 29 July to 28 August.  

The free exhibition, titled 150 years of Exeter Rugby Club: From local heroes to European champions, will feature an array of memorabilia spanning the 150-year history of the Exeter Chiefs. Shirts, photographs, trophies and caps will take visitors on a journey starting back in 1872.

Some of the objects donated to the exhibition have come from fans, who have sifted through years of memorabilia to find gems to display, illustrating the club’s history from the early days of rugby in the region through to the recent successes at the very top of European rugby.

Visitors will be treated to a display of impressive trophies from the Chiefs’ recent successes, including the Heineken European Champions 2020 Cup and the women’s team’s first trophy, the Allianz Cup. Other objects on show include team shirts, boots, a rugby ball signed by the All Blacks in 1963, and historic programmes and scrapbooks.

Rugby Club Chief Executive and Chairman Tony Rowe OBE said, ‘A huge amount of work has gone into creating what we believe is a fantastic, historical journey through the years of our great club. Some of the artefacts that have been unearthed are extraordinary, yet detail how the club was formed and how it has developed over the many years.

‘For supporters of our club, this really is a rare chance to unearth more about the history of Exeter Rugby Club and we hope as many of you as possible take the opportunity to visit the exhibition.’

Deputy Leader of Exeter City Council Councillor Laura Wright, said, 'Exeter Chiefs are an integral part of the city's identity, and being able to find out so much about their history through this exhibition at RAMM will be a fascinating experience for everyone. It’s great to see two of our oldest institutions – the Chiefs and the RAMM – working together.’

There will also be a programme of events at the museum to complement the exhibition, including craft activities for kids, meet the players opportunities, and ‘Have a go’ days.

150 years of Exeter Rugby Club: From local heroes to European champions runs from Saturday 29 July to Sunday 28 August 2022. More information is available at rammuseum.org.uk/rugby