Exeter are to rebrand themselves according to the ‘Celtic Iron Age Dumnonii Tribe’ after deciding to desert the controversial Native American theme that has provoked fierce criticism.
The brand new identification, together with a change to their emblem, will take impact from July and whereas the ‘Chiefs’ nickname is being retained, the membership mentioned it will likely be now be aligned with a “poignant and vital nod to the previous”.
The Celtic Iron Age Dumnonii Tribe encompassed an space masking Devon, Cornwall and elements of Somerset for hundreds of years earlier than the Roman occupation from 43AD.
A big part of supporters campaigned for change within the perception that the present imagery disrespects indigenous folks in North America, prompting a evaluate course of that has now been concluded.
Chiefs followers have repeatedly been requested by opposition golf equipment to not put on the symbolic headdress to their grounds, whereas the Nationwide Congress of American Indians wrote to chairman Tony Rowe final yr to say that the present branding “harms native folks by the offensive stereotypes it promotes”.
“We’re excited to welcome within the subsequent period of rugby inside Exeter. Exeter has and all the time shall be crucial time period in our general identification,” Rowe mentioned.
“The time period Chiefs, nevertheless, is equally entrenched in our make-up, going again to over a century in the past when groups on this area would recurrently name their first groups that of the Chiefs. We’re Exeter, we’re the Chiefs!
Exeter’s new emblem that take impact from July (PA)
“As a rugby membership we have now been keen to pay attention, we have now consulted far and vast, and now we’re able to invoke change.
“It is a new path for our nice membership, however equally it’s an thrilling imaginative and prescient that I’ve little doubt will propel us onwards and upwards over time.
“Our new imagery will deliver to life the pleasure our supporters need to assist their membership, unifying us all beneath one model that underlines all of our core traditions.”
Exeter, the 2020 Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup double winners, first formally turned often called the Chiefs in 1999 however have had hyperlinks with the nickname for many years.
Their mascot ‘Massive Chief’ was retired final yr as opposition to the branding intensified.
Along with their new affiliation with the Celtic Iron Age Dumnonii Tribe, Exeter are additionally drawing from the historical past of the ‘Celtic Kingdom of Dumnonia’, which was established round AD 410 and lasted virtually 5 centuries.
“The change in identification comes within the wake of the Exeter board enterprise a full and informative evaluate course of over the previous two years,” a membership assertion learn.
“In launching the brand new imagery, detailed submissions, along with intensive historic analysis from main professionals, have been undertaken to make sure the membership have a model that not solely recognises our traditions however, extra importantly, identifies with our supporters and the area itself.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
