Chiefs pre-season friendlies announced

Exeter Chiefs will gear up for the new 2014/15 season with three mouth-watering pre-season fixtures, the club can confirm today. With redevelopment works taking place at Sandy Park, both on and off the field, the Chiefs will gear up for the new campaign away from their new-look base. The newly-crowned LV= Cup champions will kick-off their seasonal preparations with a trip to the Welsh capital to face Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday, August 15 (7.30pm). A week later they will again face opposition from the Rabo Prodirect12 when they head to Ravenhill for the first time to tackle Irish giants Ulster Rugby on August 22 (7.30pm). The pre-season programme will be wrapped up on Friday, August 29 when they head to Sixways to meet Dean Ryan's Worcester Warriors side in another 7.30pm kick-off. Commenting on the fixtures, head coach Rob Baxter said: "Preparing for any season is always vital and that's why it's important that we give ourselves some notable tests ahead of what we know will be another big year, both in the Premiership and in Europe. "Obviously we had two terrific European games against Cardiff Blues this year; Worcester we know all about from facing them in the Premiership over the last few years and Ulster, although we haven't played them before, are a quality side and have some top level performers within their squad. "Like any pre-season you want to get as much as possible out of it - and we feel these three fixtures will certainly put us in a great position to attack next season."