CHIEFS REVIEW USE OF NATIVE AMERICAN LOGO
EXETER’S directors will review their official branding at a board meeting later this month, in response to protests from fans about the long-standing use of Native American logos and mascots. The Devon club have faced a growing clamour to change their Chiefs imagery — but not the nickname itself — after a petition was launched by a group of supporters. Exeter have not publicly commented on the matter yet and will not do so until their board have considered the situation. As of yesterday evening, around 1,900 people had signed the petition entitled ‘Asking Exeter Chiefs to drop its racist use of Indigenous Peoples’ imagery and branding’. The fans who launched it, against a backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter campaign, wrote to the club’s board and the issue is now on the agenda for talks. However, while a local MP has joined the calls for the Native American logo and mascot to be scrapped, a counter petition has also gained traction. Entitled ‘The Chiefs’ representation of an American Indian is about respect and honour to them’, some 1,700 people had signed up by yesterday evening, out of an initial target of 2,500.
Sportsmail understands that
Exeter have never previously received a complaint about their choice of branding, prior to the recent campaign. The Chiefs nickname was adopted in the late ’90s, at a time when clubs started adopting branding strategies. It is thought to derive from a Devon tradition of club first teams in the county being referred to as ‘Chiefs’.
lGLASGOW Warriors have signed second-row Hamish Bain from lower-league French side Stade Niçois. Edinburgh-born Bain spent two seasons there as part of a performance partnership with Scottish Rugby, making 37 appearances and scoring three tries overall. The 22-year-old won ten caps for Scotland Under-20s and was part of the squad who finished fifth at the 2017 World Rugby Championships. Now he is delighted to be back in his home country and ready to stake his claim for a place at Scotstoun. Bain said: ‘It’s exciting to be coming back to Scotland and getting the chance to play rugby on home soil. ‘It’s a dream come true to have the chance to be playing professional rugby for them. I’m honoured to be able to have the chance to compete.’