Chiefs full back sidelined after second ACL injury

Exeter Chiefs full back Tommy Wyatt is set to miss the start of the 2025/26 season after suffering a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 25-year-old will undergo surgery on his left knee after rupturing his ACL, just months after recovering from a similar injury to his right knee.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter confirmed the news, describing it as a major setback for both player and club.

“Sadly, having suffered an ACL injury on his right knee last season, Tommy has now ruptured the ACL on his left knee,” said Baxter. “He now has surgery booked in and will face six-to-nine months in a rehabilitation process to return to play.”

“Everyone is gutted for Tommy. He worked extremely hard to come back from last season’s injury and was beginning to really breakthrough again in our most recent games.”

Baxter added that the recurrence may be linked to a structural predisposition: “From what we’ve been told from our medical contacts, this is an injury that Tommy was more structurally predisposed to suffering having already injured his other ACL.”

“The only slight positive we can take from this situation is that once he completes this latest period of rehabilitation, Tommy will be even stronger.

“We know he’ll work extremely hard to get back fit. Everyone is helping to ensure he remains in good spirits, and we’ll all do what we can to try to get him moving forward in his recovery as soon as possible.”

Wyatt had impressed in recent matches after returning to action, but will now begin a lengthy recovery process as Chiefs prepare for the new campaign.