When Exeter Chiefs beat Gloucester 22-15 on 29 December, it looked like a fresh start for the struggling side in 2025.
But now Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Olly Woodburn, Ehren Painter and Josh Hodge are all injured and following their 28-15 defeat to Leicester Tigers, it is clear the Chiefs are still trying to catch a break.
With the unenviable task of hosting a tough Champions Cup match against French Top 14 leaders Bordeaux on Saturday, their historic string of defeats looks set to continue.
While head coach Rob Baxter remained confident about the fixture, it is difficult to see how his side will overcome a French powerhouse like Bordeaux when Exeter still suffer from an over-reliance on individuals and a dwindling experience level worsened through injury.
“We need to be tough now, we can’t panic because we have to grow as a side on and off the field,” Baxter said.
“But it is going to be one of those seasons for us. We were virtually up and running with a full squad and then suddenly we have had three back three injuries in quick succession.”
One of those was the breakthrough player of 2024 Feyi-Waboso, whose absence was evident in Saturday’s defeat to Leicester.
The 22-year-old medical student was a mainstay on Exeter’s squad as his try-scoring prowess garnered 25 points from the first five games of the season.
His talent meant Baxter and Steve Borthwick continually played him, exposing him to 793 minutes from 11 games. More game time creates a higher risk, so Feyi-Waboso’s dislocated shoulder marked his second game-missing injury this season following his concussion in the Autumn Nations Series.
The latest string of injuries has contributed to the poor season as Henry Slade and Dafydd Jenkins missed the opening matches following operations.
Matters went from bad to worse before the new year as Woodburn stepped in to fill the Feyi-Waboso-shaped hole on the right wing. After 71 minutes he was brought off with a knee injury, which was later confirmed as an ACL injury.
It was the second of the week for Chiefs as prop Painter fell foul to the same injury during the build-up to the match.
Timeline for players’ return:
- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – dislocated shoulder – 10 to 12 weeks
- Olly Woodburn – knee injury (ACL) – TBC
- Ehren Painter – knee injury (ACL) – TBC
- Josh Hodge – broken hand – short-term
Exeter’s injuries do not make them the most injured squad in the Premiership as Bristol Bears try to damage-control their nine injuries. But they have left the Chiefs without some of their most experienced players for a substantial amount of time.
Tommy Wyatt, a recent ACL recoveree, covered Feyi-Waboso against Leicester last weekend and produced stellar work on the wing to contribute 10 points.
Wyatt’s versatility as a winger and full-back meant he has played every game since his return at the start of November as the replacement for Feyi-Waboso, Woodburn and Hodge.
Since the “exerdus” of Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds in 2023, Exeter have had to withstand a string of injuries with the fourth youngest squad in the Premiership – with an average of 25 years and four months.
The Chiefs have crumbled at crucial moments, leaving themselves vulnerable and giving away leads.
“We have had some dark weeks at the club,” Wyatt said.
“No one wants to lose and, no matter what people think, we have been working hard.
“But when it comes to situations which do not go our way, we sometimes forget that we are a good squad.”
Their injury-hampered squad means there is a burgeoning crisis in the backs and so Paul Brown-Bampoe has been recalled from Plymouth to make up the squad deficit this week.
And yet, the Chiefs are remaining positive.
“Whether it is a European game or not we want to win,” Wyatt said.
