Exclusive: Exeter Chiefs big wigs intervene as defence coach axed after six losses on the bounce
October 30, 2024As beleaguered Exeter Chiefs crashed once again at Sandy Park losing 36-19 to record their six successive defeat of the 2024/25 Premiership season, Planet Rugby understands that chairman and CEO Tony Rowe has read the riot act to his coaching staff as we move into the first break period of the season.
Defence coach Omar Mouneimne, recruited from Bristol Bears in 2023, is believed to be departing the Chiefs with immediate effect after serious question marks have emerged over the organisation of the team’s defensive system. Assistant coach Haydn Thomas steps in to fill the void on an interim basis.
Poor start to the season
Chiefs have endured a leaky year in terms of tries conceded, but more worrying is the number of missed tackles- 158 in six games so far this season- that’s blighting their game.
The raw stats tell a sorry tale with a woeful 78% tackle completion rate illustrating perfectly the issues Exeter are facing. Even the return of England defensive leader Henry Slade couldn’t plug the holes on Sunday as Chiefs missed another 39 tackles to allow Quins to cross five times, with many thinking it was only in inefficiency of the visitors with ball in hand that prevented a few more being added to that tally.
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It is also believed that the other senior coaches at Sandy Park are also in Rowe’s crosshairs, with several other coaches all placed on a short-term probationary performance improvement programme as it’s believed that Chiefs are scouring the market for the coaching talent to turn around their dismal season.
It is understood that director of rugby Rob Baxter, a Chiefs stalwart of some 38 years service, is not part of that performance improvement initiative.
A well travelled coach
South African Mouneimne began his coaching career in 2006 with South Africa’s Sevens team in the World Series before moving to Super Rugby side the Stormers in 2008, helping them reach the 2010 Super Rugby final.
Having built a stellar reputation in South Africa coaching the Kings, Pumas, Western Province and Stormers, Mouneimne was recruited to the Italian international set-up in 2010 where he helped the Azzurri beat France for the first time in Six Nations history the following year.
He returned to South Africa and teamed up with Gary Gold in 2014 before joining Edinburgh Rugby, where he helped them reach the European Challenge Cup final in 2015.
After a brief stint in France, coaching Lyon and Stade Francais, he linked up Gold again at Worcester Warriors on a consulting basis.
In April 2017, Mouneimne was announced as a permanent member of the Warriors coaching staff from the 2017/18 season before he moved to Bristol in 2020.
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