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22 Oct 2025

Chiefs men and women set for vital weekend showdowns

Chiefs men and women set for vital weekend showdowns

Exeter Chiefs men and women gear up for pivotal fixtures, with both teams aiming for crucial victories in the Champions Cup and Premier 15s

Exeter Chiefs have named their squad for Round Two of the Investec Champions Cup, as they prepare to face French giants Stade Toulousain at Sandy Park this Sunday evening.

The reigning champions arrive in Devon full of confidence, having secured a dominant 61-21 victory over Ulster in Round One at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Meanwhile, Rob Baxter’s men will be looking to bounce back after a defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.

Two changes have been made to the Chiefs' front row, with Will Goodrick-Clarke and Ehren Painter starting at loosehead and tighthead respectively. Dan Frost retains his hooker spot after scoring a brace of tries in last weekend’s clash. Rusi Tuima returns to the second row to partner Richard Capstick, and Ross Vintcent reclaims his spot in the back row at number eight, with Ethan Roots and match captain Jacques Vermeulen completing the flanks.

Stu Townsend remains at scrum-half, while Henry Slade returns to fly-half after a week’s rest following the Autumn internationals. The backline remains largely unchanged, with Tommy Wyatt and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wings, Tamati Tua and Ben Hammersley in the centre, and Josh Hodge at fullback.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter acknowledged the challenges his side has faced in recent weeks but emphasized the importance of staying positive. "We’re aware that one of our Achilles heels for the last 18 months or so has been the parts of games where you lose momentum and you’re trying to regain control," he said. "We found that in South Africa last week – we started well but lost momentum, which made it tough to regain control."

Baxter stressed the need for improvement in this area, particularly when facing a team like Toulouse. “We’ve got to try to keep improving in that department so we can be stronger in more periods of the game. We’re going into this game with the expectation that we’re going to win it.”

Club captain Jack Yeandle returns to the matchday 23, named on the bench alongside Kwenzo Blose and Jimmy Roots to form the replacement front row. Dafydd Jenkins, making his highly anticipated return from injury, is also on the bench, joining Greg Fisilau to provide forward cover. Will Becconsall, Will Haydon-Wood, and Zack Wimbush are also primed for action in the backs.

With momentum crucial in a competition like the Champions Cup, the Chiefs will be aiming to execute their game plan to perfection against one of Europe’s top sides this weekend.

Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs Women will look to bounce back from last weekend’s weather-enforced postponement as they take on Ealing Trailfinders tomorrow in Round 10 of the Premier 15s at Trailfinders Sports Ground.

This will mark the team’s 83rd league match, alongside the 17 cup games already played.

Assistant coach Steve Salvin expressed the team’s frustration at missing the Bristol Bears clash but emphasized the importance of maintaining focus. “We were massively disappointed not to play last weekend because a huge amount of work goes into a week’s preparation,” he said. “Games of that calibre are crucial for building towards the tough end of the season.”

The Chiefs' squad remains largely unchanged from the line-up initially selected for the Bristol fixture, with Taylor Perry joining the bench for more game time. The team boasts a formidable pack led by international front-rowers Hope Rogers, Cliodhna Moloney, and DaLeaka Menin. Captain Poppy Leitch partners with Dorothy Wall in the second row, while Rachel Johnson, Maddie Feaunati, and Ebony Jefferies complete the pack.

The backline features Flo Robinson and Liv McGoverne as the half-back duo, with Alex Tessier and Nancy McGillivray in the centre. Sabrina Poulin and Katie Buchanan take up positions on the wings, with Merryn Doidge at full-back.

Salvin emphasized the decision to stick with the selected squad despite the delay. “It’s tough because players were ready for last week’s game, and the opportunity was taken away. It felt right to stay consistent with the team we had.”

The Chiefs face a formidable Ealing Trailfinders side, who defeated Sale Sharks with five tries in the previous round. Ealing’s Abby Dow, who made 131 metres in Round 9, along with Julia Schell and Chloe Rollie, bring pace and attacking flair that will test the league leaders.

Salvin, who oversees the Chiefs’ defence, noted the challenges posed by playing on a 4G pitch, which accelerates the pace of the game. “We’ve been going well this season, but Ealing have so much speed and creativity in their squad. We need to be strong across all areas.”

Despite the challenges, the Chiefs’ defensive record has been a cornerstone of their unbeaten run this season. Salvin credited improved squad depth as a key factor. “Last season, we struggled with conceding late points due to a lack of depth. This year, we’ve built a squad that can sustain our defensive intensity throughout games.”

Kick-off for the women’s match is set for 12pm tomorrow at Trailfinders Sports Ground, with the Chiefs aiming to maintain their position at the top of the table.

As the Chiefs face tough challenges on both fronts, they will be looking to execute their game plans with precision and continue their pursuit of success in both the Investec Champions Cup and Premier 15s.

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