Wyatt returns to PREM action for Chiefs

October 01, 2026
508
Ultimate Rugby

Tommy Wyatt will play his first Gallagher PREM match since May 2025 as he is named on the wing for Exeter Chiefs’ round two trip to the Recreation Ground to face Bath Rugby.

Wyatt was ruled out for nearly 16 months following a second ACL injury but returned to fitness in this season’s pre-season friendlies.

Georgian international Bachuki Tchumbadze also returns to Chiefs colours on the bench. Sam Wolstehnholme is included in the 23, one week on from being ruled out due to illness the day before Chiefs’ season opener.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Bath away is one of the biggest challenges in the Prem. Making sure we’ve got a focus on just staying in the moment, sticking to our processes, is going to be more important this week than ever. We’ve got to turn up and stay in the fight.”

The forward pack remains intact after a frustrating outing against Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park last weekend.

Ethan Burger and Josh Iosefa-Scott pack down at loosehead and tighthead with hooker Jack Yeandle between the two. Captain Dafydd Jenkins mans the boiler room with Harry Wilson while the combative trio of Ethan Roots, Kane James and Greg Fisilau form the back-row.

The scrum-half and fly-half pairing is occupied by Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner while behind them in the centre field, Will Butt prepares to return to his former club as the opposition for the first time.

Henry Slade partners up with Butt as Ben Hammersley makes way for Wyatt’s return to reshuffle the back-three. Olly Woodburn moves to full-back to accommodate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso remaining on the right wing.

Baxter added: “There are a lot of reasons for Bath to feel they have something to prove on Friday night, but I’d like to think we feel we have things to prove too. We feel we underperformed last weekend, so we’ve got to show the type of team we want to be.”

Having scored a try on his league debut last weekend, Louie Gulley retains his position on the bench. Tchumbadze joins the young hooker and Will Goodrick-Clarke to complete the replacement front-row.

Gulley’s fellow debutant Oscar Beckerleg is also named with Finn Worley Brady, who was a last-minute call-up in round one when illness ruled out fellow EURFC graduate, Joe Bailey.

Wolstenholme leads the backline cover with Will Haydon-Wood and Zack Wimbush possessing the ability to cover centres, wing and full-back.

The game kicks off under the floodlights at 19:45 on Friday evening in Bath. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Will Butt

11 Tommy Wyatt

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Ethan Burger

2 Jack Yeandle