Team News: Chiefs Name Side for Final Home Game of 2023/24

Rob Baxter has not made any changes to his Chiefs starting line-up to host Harlequins at Sandy Park in Round 17 of the Gallagher Premiership this Saturday evening, May 11.

Chiefs welcome the Londoners to Devon for their last home game of the 2023/24 season with the match having an important impact on the top four ambitions of both clubs.

The front row features loosehead Scott Sio, hooker Jack Yeandle and tighthead Marcus Street all packing down together.

Irishman Jack Dunne partners Welshman, and captain, Dafydd Jenkins in the second row. With the hard-hitting back row of Ethan Roots and Jacques Vermeulen on the flanks with Greg Fisilau at eight.

Tom Cairns and Harvey Skinner are the half-back duo with Henry Slade and Joe Hawkins forming the centre partnership.

In the back three, scorer of April’s try of the month Dan John is at full-back with Olly Woodburn and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso running the wings.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter says his Chiefs squad will be going into the encounter with a positive mindset and treating this competitive run-in as another early step on the journey of this young and developing squad.

“The last game of the season will be exciting if we go well this weekend. That’s obviously going to be a big challenge as Harlequins are playing some very good rugby but that said, we win, and we could potentially swap places with them.

“We’re not far apart in terms of performance levels in the Premiership, so we have to make sure that we show that the season has been very important for us in our growth and development.

“This weekend will be interesting as Quins are facing the same scenario we did going in to our Bath game a couple of weeks ago in that they played last Sunday so had a short turnaround for coming back into Premiership action.

“I think the key will be knowing that when you face Harlequins you have to be good, but you have to stay good. You have to hold your performance because the minute you think you can manage the scoreboard or the clock then they’re absolutely lethal.

“We’ve talked a fair bit about that. We want to make the game about us while Quins will want to make it about them but that’s always the overriding factor on who wins games of rugby. I do think we’re progressing and we’re moving forward as a group, so this is a great opportunity for us to show that again.”

On the bench Max Norey, Billy Keast and Ehren Painter form the replacement front row. For the second week, it’s an all-international duo that cover the second and back-row with Wales’ Christ Tshiunza and Italy’s Ross Vintcent.

Fresh from his injury return and news of his re-signing, scrum half Niall Armstrong is named alongside Will Haydon-Wood and Zack Wimbush as cover for the backs.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Dan John

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Joe Hawkins

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Marcus Street

4 Jack Dunne

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Billy Keast

18 Ehren Painter

19 Christ Tshiunza

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Niall Armstrong

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Zack Wimbush