Jenkins returns to captain reshuffled Exeter as Baxter warns league allows no slow starts

Dafydd Jenkins returns from injury to captain Exeter Chiefs as they open their Premiership season against Gloucester at Sandy Park, with Rob Baxter naming a squad that shows significant turnover from the side beaten by Northampton in last June’s final. Only 11 members of that matchday 23 feature in the 23 selected for Saturday’s 3.05pm kick-off.

Olly Woodburn is among those retained from the final and is set to reach a notable milestone, becoming a club double centurion should he feature. England internationals Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade also start, alongside half-backs Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner — all five having played at Twickenham in June.

New signing Will Butt slots into the No.12 jersey vacated by Len Ikitau, while Ben Hammersley takes the full-back role. Up front, Jenkins is joined by tight-head Josh Iosefa-Scott, flanker Ethan Roots and No.8 Greg Fisilau, all of whom started the final. Kane James, who featured from the bench at Twickenham, moves into the starting openside position.

The Chiefs will hand Premiership debuts to Louie Gulley, Oscar Beckerleg and Joe Bailey, all named among the replacements.

Baxter struck a cautious tone ahead of the campaign, pointing to how little margin for error exists in the modern Premiership. “The league is so competitive now, the games come so quickly and there’s so few of them, that you really can’t afford to get caught,” he said. “It’ll be a really interesting game for both of us.”

The head coach also expressed satisfaction with his side’s pre-season preparations, including a friendly in Cardiff the previous weekend. “Overall, I’m pleased with pre-season and the character we showed in games like last weekend’s friendly in Cardiff. We’ve got to decide to roll our sleeves up now though and get ready for the Prem,” Baxter added.