Future of Exeter Chief's Native American branding to be decided within the 'next few weeks'

Campaign group, Exeter Chiefs for Change says it's a 'tip-toe' forward, but a 'move in the right direction'

Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 26th Nov 2021

Exeter Chiefs say it will still be a few weeks until we know what the future holds for their branding.

Their use of Native American imagery has been heavily criticised and was due to be discussed at Wednesday's (24 November) Annual General Meeting (AGM).

They club say a decision will be made 'within the next few weeks'.

Their full statement said: "After consulting and listening in depth to the membership of Exeter Rugby Club at Wednesday’s Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will now go away and further consult with its stakeholders, partners and professional advisors to decide what the club will do next in terms of the club’s branding.

"The board will be meeting within the next few weeks to come to a decision.

"At this time, the club will be making no further comment."

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs for Change are one of the many groups calling on the Premiership Rugby side to ditch their current branding.

They say the club's statement is a 'move in the right direction' but add that this has 'dragged on for long enough':

"We know fans are fed up with hearing about it and the club must be fed up with being asked about it, but neither will be as fed up as Indigenous peoples are, having to continue tirelessly campaigning for the simple right to not have their culture caricatured and misrepresented.

"Exeter Chiefs is so much more than a logo: there was a long history before it and there will be a long future after it.

"There’s so much to be proud of with this club and we know no one wants it or rugby to go on being tarnished with this controversy, particularly when we know what devastating effects failing to deal with racial equality issues properly can have on an organisation.

"It’s vital that discussions centre purely around Indigenous peoples as the only people who really matter in this."

Exeter Chiefs for Change

Read more:

"It's hard for the people who are appropriating something to understand why that's offensive"

EXCLUSIVE: Exeter Chiefs urged to drop "more than offensive" branding

America's largest Native group calls on Exeter Chiefs to 'drop deeply-offensive' imagery

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