Exeter split with defence coach Mouneimne

Omar Mouneimne has been part of the coaching set up at Exeter for 28 months

Exeter defence coach Omar Mouneimne has left the club in the wake of their worst-ever start to a Premiership season.

The Chiefs, who have lost all six of their games this season, have parted company with the 49-year-old former Worcester and Bristol coach.

The South African has been at Sandy Park since leaving the Bears in 2022 and will be succeeded by Haydn Thomas.

The former Exeter scrum-half has been University of Exeter and England U20s on top of his role as a backs and attack coach at Sandy Park.

He is also part of the England 'A' coaching setup.

This season Exeter have conceded the fourth-most points in the Premiership after six matches, at an average of 29 per game.

They were the first side to lose to Newcastle in 15 months when they were beaten at Kingston Park earlier this month, while at times Harlequins cut through Exeter's defence seemingly at will in their bonus-point win at Sandy Park on Saturday.

“I would like to thank Omar for his hard work in helping us develop a new and transitional young group of players into a competitive Premiership squad,” director of rugby Rob Baxter said.

“However, I felt we needed to head in a new direction defensively and after some conversations between Omar and I, we agreed now was the right time for a change."