First American club investors arrive in Gallagher PREM Rugby as Exeter Chiefs bought by Black Knight Rugby
By Becky Hart
Updated 30/06/2026 at 16:47 GMT+1
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Gallagher PREM Rugby side Exeter Chiefs have been bought out by Black Knight Rugby, a subsidiary of Cannae Holdings, Inc. meaning they will have a new executive board with Tony Rowe remaining as the chief executive officer.
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Exeter Chiefs finished third in the PREM table last season, before going on to lose the play-off final to Northampton Saints.Â
They have won the championship twice since being promoted in 2010, with Rowe overseeing an extended period of success with the club.Â
”If you had to choose an investor in the world of sport, you could not choose better than Black Knight. I am absolutely over the moon,” Rowe said in a statement.Â
”I look forward to working with Black Knight Rugby to support the club. Black Knight’s partnership from both a capital and operation perspective will allow Exeter Chiefs to move into the franchise era with ease.
”Although I feel privileged to have led this club for the last 25 years, the financial burden was becoming too much for me and my family.Â
”With Black Knight, we can look forward to a positive future, building on what we have already achieved to keep pushing for success on and off the pitch.”
Rowe will remain on the executive board, but is joined by Cannae Holdings, Inc.’s vice chairman William Foley and CEO Ryan Caswell.
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”Exeter is the type of asset we have been seeking as we transform Cannae into a focused portfolio of sports and entertainment businesses,” said Foley.
”We have a proven track record of building successful sports and entertainment brands, like Black Knight Football’s network of clubs, and we intend to bring that same approach to Exeter.
”We are excited to partner with Tony, the management team and the community to build on the success of the club and drive future results.”
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Cannae Holdings, Inc. already own shares in Bournemouth, FC Lorient of France’s Ligue 1 and Moreirense FC of Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
”Black Knight understands elite sport and what it takes to build a high-performance environment on and off the pitch. Their arrival is another powerful signal of where English rugby and PREM Rugby is heading,” added Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO of PREM Rugby.
”Exeter Chiefs are one of the great success stories of our game and Tony Rowe deserves enormous credit for everything he has built at Sandy Park and the legacy that he has created.
”To win two PREM titles and a European Cup is an extraordinary achievement. Tony’s vision, commitment and passion for the club and the wider game have been central to everything Exeter have achieved and we are pleased to see that he will continue to play an important role at the club.”
Director of rugby Ron Baxter signed a new deal to remain at the club in April, giving Exeter more continuity as they get set for a new season.Â
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Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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