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The secret behind Exeter's rise

Don Armand shares it all from the sixth minute!

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Exeter may have achieved one of the greatest fairytale stories when they bagged the 2016/17 Premiership title by defeating Wasps 23-20 and a large part of that success has stemmed from Rob Baxter and their loyal fan base.

"The Exeter culture is a big part [of the success]. If you look at the people involved and Rob Baxter being the head of it, he has such a good understanding of how the community works, how the supporters work, what the team was back then and how not to stray too far from it. 

"I think the one message he always sends is to be prepared to work hard. I think that any team that is prepared to work hard, will go places. That is what has helped the Exeter Chiefs' cause. 

"The supporter base is one thing we always harp on about and how amazing it is. We've got a whole lot of loyal supporters, who have been there since we were in the Championship, they have seen the Chiefs at their worst and their best. 

"They are the type of fans who pride themselves on not having a go at the opposition and rather get behind the boys. It's a really good attribute," Armand said.

One such supporter is Beau aka #Minidon, a young fan who loves Armand and Exeter so much that he dressed up as the loose forward for a party.

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"He [Beau] got his fame from going to a princesses and superheroes party and he dressed up as me. They sculpted this amazing beard that fitted really well, he had this cool little haircut and he had the head tape on his head. 

"He is not just a Don fan, he can name every Exeter Chiefs player," Armand added.

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