Rob Baxter: 'Exeter Chiefs already looking to next season'

Rob Baxter has said that Exeter Chiefs are already focussing on having a "fantastic season" next year after narrowly missing out on a place in the Aviva Premiership playoffs.

The Chiefs beat Sale Sharks 44-16 in their final match of the campaign, but results elsewhere meant that Saracens and Leicester Tigers just edged above them on points difference.

The club's director of rugby told BT Sport: "In the second half today we were a very good side. The key for us is making sure that's how we stay when it gets tough and it gets tight. Sometimes when we go within ourselves that's our challenge, that's the battle.

"We've got a fantastic season ahead next year, the Premiership is a great competition, getting better all the time. We're back in the top tier of the European competition."

Defending champions Northampton Saints and Bath will also contest the playoffs.