Tom Hooper is back in an Exeter Chiefs matchday squad for the first time this season, named on the bench as Sandy Park prepares to host Newcastle Red Bulls in round three of the Gallagher Premiership. The Wallabies back-rower returned to England earlier this week after featuring for Australia in the Rugby Championship, and his availability gives director of rugby Rob Baxter a significant option in the closing stages against a Newcastle side he has flagged as dangerous.
A Settled Pack With One Shift
Baxter has made just one change to his starting forwards from the win at Bath. Ross Vintcent comes into the back row at openside flanker, with Kane James dropping to the bench. Everywhere else, continuity is the theme: Jack Yeandle starts at hooker between Ethan Burger and Josh Iosefa-Scott, while captain Dafydd Jenkins partners Harry Wilson in the second row. Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau, both prominent in the tackle count against Bath, retain their places alongside Vintcent in the back row.
Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner continue as the half-back pairing after both scored at The Rec. In the backs, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Wyatt start on the wings, Sam Harris steps in at full-back following an injury concern to Olly Woodburn, and Will Butt lines up outside Henry Slade in midfield after an impressive outing against his former club.
Why Hooper's Return Matters
Hooper made more than 20 appearances in his debut Exeter season, including a start in last term's Premiership final, so his reintroduction carries weight beyond a single matchday squad. International windows routinely disrupt club rotations in English rugby, and Hooper's absence this season reflects the broader scheduling tension between national unions and domestic competitions. His return gives Exeter deeper cover in the back row at a point in the campaign where squad depth is being tested.
Baxter's comments about Newcastle point to a club still finding its collective identity despite possessing individual quality - a dynamic increasingly common in a league where recruitment and player development cycles vary widely between clubs. For Exeter, the target is straightforward: build on a bonus-point away result at Bath and convert home advantage into the kind of consistent points return Baxter says is needed to stay on track early in the season.
What's at Stake on the Scoreboard
- Exeter collected two points from their trip to Bath, a result Baxter described as a decent return.
- A single point from the previous home fixture has added pressure to perform in front of the Sandy Park crowd.
- Baxter has set an informal marker of seven or eight points from the first three rounds as a sign of positive momentum.
Kick-off at Sandy Park is scheduled for 15:00, with Louie Gulley, Will Goodrick-Clarke and Bachuki Tchumbadze forming the replacement front row, and Hooper joining James among the forward cover. Sam Wolstenholme, Will Haydon-Wood and Zack Wimbush complete the bench options in the backs.