Exeter Chiefs legend retires with immediate effect

Monday, 02 June 2025 at 09:35

byRugby Rucker

Former Exeter Chiefs powerhouse Dave Ewers has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The 34-year-old flanker, a fan favourite at Sandy Park, brought the curtain down on a glittering career that spanned over a decade at the top level.

One-club hero turned double winner

Rising through the ranks of the Exeter academy, Ewers became a cornerstone of the Chiefs pack, helping drive the club from Championship battlers to European champions.

He was part of the golden generation that led Exeter to six straight Premiership finals, featuring in the club’s historic 2020 domestic and European double. While injury ruled him out of the 2017 Premiership final win, he returned to start both the Champions Cup final and Premiership final triumphs in 2020 against Wasps.

England call-up – but no cap

Ewers earned an England call-up under Eddie Jones in 2016, but a cruel run of injuries denied him the chance to earn a senior international cap.

226 games, 40 tries, countless bruises

In total, Ewers made 226 appearances for Exeter, notching up 40 tries, before making the move to Ulster in 2023. He spent the current season with the Stormers in South Africa, featuring nine times in the United Rugby Championship.

Emotional farewell

Taking to social media, Ewers said:

“Thank you to Rob [Baxter] and everyone at Exeter for giving me the opportunity all those years ago. It was a special journey going from the Championship to winning the double in 2020.”
“To all the boys – thank you for all the memories. I feel nothing but blessed to have experienced everything with you all, on and off the pitch.”
“To the backroom staff and especially the medics who helped me through injuries – thank you.”
“And to the fans, thank you for all the support over the years – it’s meant a lot.”

What a career. What a man.

Zimbabwe-born, Exeter-forged, and admired across the rugby world — Dave Ewers retires as one of the Premiership’s most respected and hard-hitting forwards.