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Wales flanker Christ Tshiunza set for return after four months out
By Josh Raisey
Wales flanker Christ Tshiunza has been selected to start for Exeter Chiefs against the Royal Navy on Wednesday after over four months out with a broken foot.
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The 10-cap Wales international picked up the injury in October in what was his first game back for Exeter just two weeks after coming off the bench in Wales’ World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in Marseille.
He suffered a setback in his recovery in January, which led to his exclusion from Warren Gatland’s squad for the Guinness Six Nations.
Tshiunza will feature alongside fellow Wales international Joe Hawkins at Sandy Park in the friendly fixture.
With just two matches remaining for Wales this Six Nations – two home fixtures against France and Italy over the next two weekends – it is unlikely Tshiunza will feature for Wales this Championship. Still, he will nevertheless provide a boost to Rob Baxter at Exeter as they head into the denouement of the season with the Chiefs in the hunt for domestic and European glory.
Exeter will get their Premiership season back underway on March 23 with a visit from Newcastle Falcons, who are still searching for their first win of the season.
Tshiunza has been part of a sizeable and influential Welsh injury list this Six Nations, particularly in the back row, with World Cup captain Jac Morgan and veteran Taulupe Faletau also missing.
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Exeter Chiefs XV
15 Jed Findlay
14 Paul Brown
13 Joe Hawkins
12 Israel Akinrowo
11 Rhys Williams
10 Iwan Jenkins
9 Will Becconsall
1 Patrick Schickerling
2 Dan Frost
3 Marcus Street
4 Eoin O’Connor
5 Matt Postlethwaite
6 Christ Tshiunza
7 Richard Capstick
8 Hallam Chapman
Replacements
Jack Innard
Iestyn Harris
Billy Keast
Jacob Morris
Keita Ando
Albert Dowse
Tom Dingle
Mawgen Warren
Freddy Rolls
James Howard
Freddie Hirst
Luca Brano