Baxter backs Tommy Wyatt to rediscover his best after two years of knee injuries

Tommy Wyatt is set to end a two-year injury nightmare when he takes his place on the bench for Exeter Chiefs’ pre-season friendly against the Scarlets at Sandy Park on Saturday, with head coach Rob Baxter urging the 26-year-old simply to enjoy his return to competitive rugby.

Wyatt last featured for the Chiefs in a home defeat to Sale Sharks in May 2025, a game that proved to be the second act of a cruel double blow. He had first damaged ligaments in his right knee during a match against Glasgow in early 2024, then suffered the same injury to his left knee in the final game of the 2024/25 season, ruling him out for the entirety of last campaign.

Baxter revealed that a slight anatomical deformity made Wyatt particularly susceptible to ACL injuries, but stressed there is now no medical barrier to a full recovery. “Tommy was one of those unfortunate people who was almost going to do the other one once he’d done the first one because he’s got a slight, slight deformity that makes you a little bit susceptible to ACL injuries,” the Exeter head coach explained.

Despite the lengthy absence, Baxter said he saw encouraging signs in training ahead of the Scarlets fixture. “I watched him in training this week, and I thought it was the best he’d looked. He is looking like he was starting to forget about his injuries and just start to let himself cut free.”

The Chiefs coach was careful to manage expectations for Wyatt’s first outing, but made clear the club’s full support is behind the versatile forward. “I’m not expecting him to be amazing in game one. All I’ve said to him is, ‘we’re backing you, and we think you’re gonna be fine. There’s nothing lingering, and nothing on the medical side you can’t do’.”

For Baxter, the primary goal on Saturday is straightforward: “The most important thing is to play rugby again and enjoy it and come off the pitch in one piece, smile and go, ‘I can still do this’.”

Wyatt, who is capable of playing across all back-five positions, was regarded as one of the more promising forwards in the Premiership before his injury run. Baxter believes that player is still there. “Hopefully, we can just start to see that Tommy Wyatt we knew as a very, very good player, and he’ll be back to his best soon.”