Rob Baxter: 'you really can’t afford to get caught'

Only 11 of the Exeter matchday 23 that lost the Gallagher PREM final to Northampton last June have made it into the squad for the opening game of the new season at home to Gloucester, kick-off 3.05pm (BST).

One of them is Dafydd Jenkins, who returns from injury to captain a Chiefs side, which includes Olly Woodburn, who is set to become a club double centurion.

Woodburn is one of five backs who graced the Allianz Park turf at Twickenham, along with fellow starters – England duo, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade, and half-backs Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner.

New signing Will Butt wears the No.12 jersey once occupied by Len Ikitau, while Ben Hammersley takes on the full-back durties.

In addition to Jenkins, tight-head Josh Iosefa-Scott, flanker Ethan Roots and No.8 Greg Fisilau all featured in the 2026 PREM final, as did Kane James and Will Haydon-Wood from the bench. James starts at openside against Gloucester.

The Chiefs are set to give PREM debuts to Louie Gulley, Oscar Beckerleg and Joe Bailey, who are all named on the bench.

“Overall, I’m pleased with pre-season and the character we showed in games like last weekend’s friendly in Cardiff. We’ve got to decide to roll our sleeves up now though and get ready for the Prem,” said Baxter.

“The league is so competitive now, the games come so quickly and there’s so few of them, that you really can’t afford to get caught. It’ll be a really interesting game for both of us.”

Exeter team vs Gloucester:

15 Ben Hammersley
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Butt
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney

1 Ethan Burger
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Harry Wilson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Kane James
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
16 Louie Gulley
17 Will Goodrick-Clarke
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Oscar Beckerleg
20 Joe Bailey
21 Jake Murray
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Zack Wimbush