Author: Brent Pilnick

Exeter Chiefs coach Ross McMillan says Australia internationals Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper have slotted in seamlessly to the squad.The pair made their debuts in the impressive 38-0 win over Harlequins on Sunday.Ikitau helped set up Henry Slade's first try while Hooper was part of a dominant forward pack that reduced Quins to few chances.Ikitau linked up with his new team-mates a fortnight ago while Hooper has only been in the country for a week after both played…

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Goodrick-Clarke, Dweba, Iosefa-Scot, Jenkins (capt), Tuima, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.Replacements: Yeandle, Burger, Tchubadze, Zambonin, Pearson, James, Chapman, Hammersley.Yellow card: Tchubadze (56).Harlequins: Green; Isgro, Northmore, Benson, Murley (capt); Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Lewies, Kenningham, Evans, Cunningham-South.Replacements: Turner, Wenger, Delgado, Treadwell, Browne, Carr, Townsend, Anderson.Yellow card: Murley (68), Browne (77).Referee: Karl Dickson. Source link

"I thought it was a tradition that was from many moons before his age," says current Exeter club captain Jack Yeandle, who has done the 'Jimmy Nine' many times."It's been going since I was at the club. "It's been pushed through by the senior players at the time - we're in the front row and there's always a mention of Jimmy Nine and 'make sure you get Jimmy Nine in'. As soon as you start getting towards the…

Baxter's side finished second-from-bottom of the Premiership last season and only bottom side Newcastle scored fewer points than the 403 Exeter managed over their 18 games. But the Exeter boss feels there is a similar drive in his squad to get Feyi-Waboso to the top of the try-scoring charts as his team had in 2021 when Sam Simmonds broke the Premiership single-season try-scoring record.The England and British and Irish Lions number eight managed 21 tries in 22 games…

Exeter: John; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Hammersley, Brown-Bampoe; Skinner, Varney; Goodrick-Clarke, Dweba, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Zambonin, Roots, Fisilau, Vintcent.Replacements: Yeandle, Blose, Tchumbadze, Tuima, Pearson, James, Chapman, Lilley.Newcastle: Williams; Spencer, Doherty, Grayson, Hearle; Connon, Elliott; McCallum, McGuigan (capt), de Bruin, Hodgson, Clarke, Neild, Gordon, Mafi.Replacements: Fletcher, Brocklebank, Palframan, Usher, Lee-Warner, Dickens, Chamberlain, Obatoyinbo.Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys. Source link

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter said the new Gallagher Prem season is a chance for his side to have a "reset" after last year's poor campaign.The Chiefs finished second from bottom, winning just four matches, as they recorded the worst top-flight season in their history. It was the fourth successive season that Exeter failed to reach the Premiership final, having reached the previous six.Long-serving coaches Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter have left the club, while a number of…

That intervention at Exeter lit a spark that has stayed with Wheeler throughout his career.After leaving for Queens Park Rangers in 2018, he spent time on loan at Milton Keynes Dons and Portsmouth before six seasons at Wycombe Wanderers, during which Wheeler helped the Chairboys win promotion to the Championship in 2020.As his career progressed, he became more and more interested in sustainability within sport, giving talks and lectures on the subject and being nominated at last year's…