Feyi-Waboso ruled out for surgery as Exeter name side to face Saracens

Exeter Chiefs will face Saracens at Sandy Park on Saturday without England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who requires surgery on a facial injury sustained during last weekend’s win at Leicester Tigers. Back-row forward Greg Fisilau is also absent after suffering a facial injury in the same match, leaving head coach Rob Baxter to reshuffle his squad for a fixture with direct top-four implications.

Feyi-Waboso’s operation was confirmed following assessments by the Chiefs’ medical team, investigative scans, and consultation with England’s medical staff. Paul Brown-Bampoe, who was named among the replacements at Leicester, steps into the starting line-up in his place.

Fisilau’s absence has triggered a back-row reshuffle. Tom Hooper moves to blindside flank, Christ Tshiunza comes into the starting side at openside, and Ethan Roots returns to the number eight position. Baxter has otherwise kept his front five unchanged, with loosehead prop Scott Sio — who is joining Cardiff next season — set to play his final home game at Sandy Park. Tshiunza, bound for Sale Sharks, and centre Len Ikitau are also playing their last matches at the ground.

Kane James, recently included in Steve Tandy’s wider Wales squad, returns to the bench for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against Cardiff Rugby in January.

Baxter acknowledged the weight of the occasion but urged his players to channel their emotions constructively. “I think now your emotional energy takes over more than your physical energy,” he said. “What you start doing as a coaching group is almost hold the lads back a little at the start of the week to make sure they don’t drain their batteries too soon.”

The Exeter head coach was measured in his assessment of the visitors. “Saracens are turning up, scoring points, winning games. We’re not far off that form, I don’t think. They’re doing whatever they have to do to win, and that’s often the mark of a very good side.”

Baxter also addressed the broader significance of the match for a squad still building its own identity. “The team that is there now is one that’s got to build its own reputation, build its own history and have its own successes and failures. All of that is going to be based not on Saracens, but on what we can do as a team.”