David Peter Ewers[2] (born 3 November 1990) is a Zimbabwean former rugby union player who played in the back row for Exeter Chiefs, Cornish Pirates, Ulster and the Stormers.[3]

Dave Ewers
Birth nameDavid Peter Ewers
Date of birth (1990-11-03) 3 November 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthHarare, Zimbabwe
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight125 kg (19 st 10 lb) [1]
SchoolIvybridge Community College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010-2023 Exeter Chiefs 236 (195)
2011-2012Cornish Pirates (loan) 14 (0)
2023-2024 Ulster 16 (0)
2024-2025 Stormers 9 (0)
Correct as of 2 June 2025

Early life

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Ewers attended Hillcrest Preparatory School in Mutare, before his family left Zimbabwe when he was 13, returning to his English grandparents in Ivybridge. His father was a teacher and working on a farm at the time.[4][5][6]

Ewers attended the AASE programme run by Ivybridge Community College in 2009 and 2010. Ewers was a member of the Ivybridge squad 1st XV which contended the AASE final of 2009 & 2010 and won the North of England 7s Tournament the same year.

Rugby playing career

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Club level

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Ewers was signed up by Exeter Chiefs in 2010[7] and made his first start in the British and Irish Cup against Newport.[8] Before becoming a senior member of the Chiefs squad, Ewers was dual-registered and frequently played for Cornish Pirates. He was a member of the Chiefs side that reached six consecutive Premiership finals, winning in 2017 and 2020, and won the European Champions Cup in 2020. He made 226 appearances for the Chiefs, and scored 40 tries.[9]

In 2023 he joined Ulster for a season,[10] then moved to the Stormers for the 2024/25 season,[11] before announcing his retirement.[9]

International level

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Ewers was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014.[12] In February 2016 he was called up to England's 2016 Six Nations squad.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Exeter Chiefs". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  2. ^ "DAVE EWERS". ESPN.com. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Exeter youngsters head for Cornwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Rugby star recalls losing everything in Zim". 17 February 2018.
  5. ^ Broadbent, Rick. "England new boy Ewers finally settled after fleeing Mugabe regime".
  6. ^ "Dave Ewers follows David Pocock in beating pain of exile". 9 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Success Stories and Player Profiles". RFU.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Ewers hopes to make his first start for Exe in cup". Thisisexeter.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Former Exeter flanker Ewers retires aged 34", BBC Sport, 2 June 2025
  10. ^ "Ulster confirm a nine-strong leavers list that includes Dave Ewers". Rugby Pass. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  11. ^ "EXPERIENCED EWERS JOINS DHL STORMERS". Stormers. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Six Nations 2016: Manu Tuilagi in England squad for Wales game". BBC Sport. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
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