Exeter Chiefs 24-10 Leicester Tigers result - Chiefs put up a strong fight against Tigers to claim a comfortable win at Sandy Park

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Sandy Park / 28.12.2025

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'A silent assassin' - Chiefs attack coach Walder relishing working with 'brilliant' Fisilau.

'A silent assassin' - Chiefs attack coach Walder relishing working with 'brilliant' Fisilau

Video credit: TNT Sports

EXETER CHIEFS CONTROL SANDY PARK CLASH TO LEAVE LEICESTER TIGERS EMPTY-HANDED

Exeter Chiefs secured a 24‑10 victory over Leicester Tigers at a packed Sandy Park, in a performance dominated by physical intensity, clinical defence and crucial moments that swung the contest in the hosts’ favour.

The hosts began strongly and looked likely to score early on after a sustained period of pressure inside Leicester’s 22, but Leicester’s shrewd counter-rucking and solid defensive structure kept the scoreboard blank.

Leicester’s scrum effort from a set-piece inside their own half provided some attacking momentum, only for Exeter to disrupt play and force a turnover earlier in the encounter.

Exeter finally broke the deadlock on the back of sustained pressure. After pinning Leicester deep and recycling possession through powerful carries from Fisilau and Zambonin, Tchumbadze was held up over the line before the Chiefs secured territory and scored through a well-worked phase.

'Such good footwork!' - Fisilau storms his way to the line for Chiefs opening try

Video credit: TNT Sports

As the first half wore on, Exeter began to assert control again. A loose kick that took a fortunate deflection put Varney onside and his break into Leicester territory was halted just short by a crucial tackle.

They extended their advantage before the break with an incisive passing move that saw Fisilau slice through the Tigers’ defence before offloading to Varney, who finished untouched from 30 metres.

Leicester’s offence showed signs of life after the break, particularly after Van Poortvliet replaced the injured Whiteley at scrum-half. His accurate box-kicks and off-ball work helped Leicester stay competitive on the front foot, and they capitalised on an Exeter error when Skinner misdirected a pass to concede possession.

In attack, Leicester have looked a different side since Jack van Poortvliet replaced the injured Tom Whiteley at scrum-half, with the half-time score sitting at 14‑7 when it could quite easily have been 21‑0.

Image credit: Getty Images

Exeter pressed on as the second half progressed, winning penalties in key areas and exerting territorial dominance. Searle kept Leicester in touch with a simple three-point penalty, but Exeter’s defence remained robust, especially when Leicester threatened close to the line with sustained phases of play.

Ridl’s effort for a second try and what would have been the bonus-point score was ruled out by the TMO for loss of control in the corner, and a later attempt by Goodrick-Clarke was also disallowed after he dropped the ball over the line.

These decisions ultimately meant Exeter missed out on a bonus point, despite finishing strongly in attack.

'Varney to seal it!' - Chiefs scrum-half slides over to secure victory at Sandy Park

Video credit: TNT Sports

Late in the game Leicester were penalised for sealing off on their own 10‑metre line, allowing Exeter to kick into the 22 and build pressure.

Though Leicester mounted a series of phases, they were unable to breach the Chiefs’ defence again.

Leicester made some good breaks with a stunning try from Henderson.

'Henderson galloping in!' - Tigers lock charges over for visitors first try at Sandy Park

Video credit: TNT Sports

The hosts secured a solid win but missed out on the top spot in the Premiership table by a point.

EXETER CHIEFS 24-10 LEICESTER TIGERS

Image credit: Getty Images

Image credit: Getty Images

Image credit: Getty Images

Image credit: Getty Images

LEICESTER TIGERS HEAD COACH, GEOFF PARLING:

"I thought it was the poorest we've been emotionally. We lacked an edge, especially in that first 30 minutes. I've got to look at how we prepped the week because I just didn't think we were on tonight.

"I thought we had an intermittent training week, some days were good, and some were bad. We're not good enough yet to have those off days. That's the first game I thought the group will admit we weren't on edge with our collisions and how we were playing.

"The main thing for me is we're back at home and we've got to play with the right sort of edge. Because that wasn't our DNA today."

Image credit: Getty Images

EXETER CHIEFS ATTACK COACH, DAVE WALDER:

"That's the pleasing thing, the emotional energy we turned up with today was probably a little bit more than Leicester's. Disappointed with our accuracy at key moments, we could have made it a bit more comfortable for ourselves. But you would have taken a win this morning.

"It's based on hard work. You go up to Sarries last week, and we were disappointed not to take the bonus point, and then today we were disappointed we left a point out there. I think that's a mark of where we've come from, that we're disappointed not to be taking the extra points.

"He's brilliant to work with, the number of times he gets his arm free in the tackle. He's got the physicality, the soft skills, we build a lot of things around him. He's a great person, very quiet, a bit of a silent assassin, but he's definitely got an edge to him at times, and he's brilliant to have on our team.

"I came into an environment that was pretty much rock bottom. Everyone working hard but not having the conversations you needed to have to become more efficient and effective.

"There was a line in the sand drawn by Rob in pre-season. It's a different environment, different club and different group now.

"We've got to take the good things that work with this group and add things to make it better. Boys are taking information on, we've simplified things and the way we're performing at the moment, it's great to be part of."

SAM WARBURTON ON EXETER:

"Exeter, they haven't had a massive personnel change, but the difference on the field is chalk and cheese.

"They've been absolutely brilliant this year.

"To back up two good away wins against Sale and Saracens, and then today, puts them in a brilliant position."

MAN OF THE MATCH, GREG FISILAU:

"It's huge. We spoke about turning it around from last season, so to come out today and make a big statement against a good Tigers side is huge for us.

On HT message: "It was just about being more clinical. We were putting ourselves in good positions, but we just weren't finishing them.

"It started with our mindset going into pre-season. The lads had a really tough pre-season, and we've brought that into the start of the season and built really good habits around training, and that's carried into our games and managed to put ourselves on the right side of results.

"Bath obviously didn't get the win on the weekend, we know they're going to be firing for us coming down there. Same as this week and every week, try and go there and put our best foot forward."

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Greg Fisilau is rightfully named player of the match.

Image credit: Getty Images

FULL-TIME! EXETER CHIEFS 24-10 LEICESTER TIGERS

Goodrick-Clarke loses control over the line and the final try is disallowed, bringing the game to an end.

Exeter secure a 24-10 victory but will not finish the year top of the table, sitting just one point behind leaders Northampton.

Leicester leave Sandy Park empty-handed.

80'

NO TRY! EXETER CHIEFS (GOODRICK-CLARKE) 24-10 LEICESTER TIGERS

Goodrick-Clarke claims Exeter’s bonus-point try, putting the hosts on track to finish 2025 top of the table.

The try is disallowed as Will Goodrick-Clarke dropped it in the tackle.

80'

SKINNER KICK

Leicester are caught offside, and Skinner attempts a crossfield kick to Feyi-Waboso, but the ball goes dead.

Exeter are awarded another penalty as they push for the bonus-point try.

80'

LAST CHANCE

Ridl appeared to have scored his second try and Exeter’s bonus-point try, but he lost control reaching the corner.

With the clock just shy of 80 minutes, play is brought back for a penalty to Exeter five metres from the Leicester line.

78'

EXETER ADVANTAGE

Leicester are penalised for sealing off on their 10-metre line.

Their slim hopes of a losing bonus point fade, while Exeter’s chances of a bonus-point try grow as Slade kicks the hosts into Leicester’s 22.

77'

PENALTY! LEICESTER

Exeter Chiefs 24-10 Leicester Tigers (Searle).

Searle slots the simple penalty, extending Leicester’s lead to 14 points with just three and a half minutes remaining.

74'

LEICESTER STRUGGLE

Leicester are back to a full 15 players, but the two yellow cards in the second half have hindered their progress.

They still have a slim chance of picking up a losing bonus point.

71'

TRY! EXETER CHIEFS (VARNEY) 24-7 LEICESTER TIGERS

Fisilau bursts through a gap from inside his own half, charging into the Leicester 22.

He links up perfectly in a simple two-on-one, passing inside to Varney, who races 30 metres to score untouched.

Slade adds the straightforward conversion, giving Exeter a 17-point lead and likely sealing the win, with Sandy Park rocking in celebration.

'Varney to seal it!' - Chiefs scrum-half slides over to secure victory at Sandy Park

Video credit: TNT Sports

69'

FORWARD PASS

Leicester push forward inside Exeter’s 22 despite a possible knock-on, but their momentum is halted after the TMO rules a forward pass from Henderson to Blamire.

Meanwhile, Exeter make a change, with Tuima coming on for Zambonin.

66'

HOSTS PENALTY

Skinner’s pass around halfway is loose, and Leicester seize the opportunity, moving the ball to just outside Exeter’s 22.

However, James intervenes at the breakdown to win a crucial penalty for the hosts.

65'

LEICESTER'S DEFENSIVE EFFORT

Leicester mount a massive defensive effort deep inside their own 22, managing to steal possession and clear their lines, though they remain down a man for another nine minutes.

Meanwhile, Leicester make a front-row change, with Haffar replacing Smith.

64'

EXETER ADVANTAGE

Exeter break from inside their own half, with Skinner powering toward the line before being brought down just short by a remarkable tackle from van Poortvliet.

The ball ends up over the line, prompting a TMO review, and it initially looked like Searle might have earned a penalty for getting over the ball.

After reviewing, the referee decides that while a probable try was prevented, it isn’t certain Skinner would have scored, so Searle receives a yellow card and Exeter are awarded a penalty on the five-metre line.

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