Roots returns as Chiefs head to Gloucester

Following a narrow two-point loss to league-leaders Bath, Chiefs make three changes to the starting XV as they look to bounce back against a Gloucester side who also come off a defeat, to Saracens.

In the forwards, Ethan Roots returns from injury and Ross Vintcent rotates into the back row, while Niall Armstrong is handed the scrum-half shirt to partner Harvey Skinner.

The rest of the backline remains unchanged with Josh Hodge at fullback, Henry Slade and Joe Hawkins in the centres, and Paul Brown-Bampoe and Ben Hammersley on the wings.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter expects a fast and open game from Sunday’s hosts.

“From this weekend’s game, I fully expect Gloucester to fly out the box and play the ball from all areas of the field,” said Baxter. “They’ll look at this game thinking, ‘whatever we do, let’s play like Gloucester against Exeter’. I would be very surprised if they change away from that game plan.”

Meanwhile, five Exeter Chiefs Women will be in international action this weekend in the final round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Red Roses duo Maddie Feaunati and Claudia MacDonald start against France in a title-decider at Twickenham. Ireland's Edel McMahon and Dorothy Wall will both start against Scotland, with Cliodhna Moloney on the bench.

Elsewhere, Linda van der Velden helped the Netherlands to a second-place finish in the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship, while players from Canada, the USA and Australia are involved in the Pacific Four Series build-up. RAF co-captain Lucy Nye will also return to Kingsholm in May for the Inter Service Championship.

Interim Head Coach Steve Salvin said, “It is great to see so many of our players in action across the world... there is plenty of women’s rugby for supporters to enjoy in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup and the return of the PWR.”