Hold onto your hats, rugby fans! Exeter Chiefs are heading into a clash against the reigning champions, Bath Rugby, with a team that's stayed exactly the same as their winning lineup from the Leicester Tigers match. This exciting showdown is set to take place at The Recreation Ground this Saturday afternoon.
The Chiefs are riding high after a victory over the Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park, which closed out 2025 and secured their position as second in the Gallagher PREM table. This consistency is a testament to their strong performance.
Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, shared his thoughts: "We were pleased with our overall performance against Leicester, I think we showed a lot of good qualities in the game. The fundamentals that the lads are putting on the field are building foundations to help us do well at the moment." He also mentioned the team's focus, stating, "I’m not too worried about our short turnaround into this week, it’s the battle of getting the emotional and physical energy right on the field for us right now. As long as we keep doing that, we look like a decent side.”
But here's where it gets interesting... Tighthead prop Bachuki Tchumbadze, fresh off a Player of the Day nomination, will start alongside Joseph Dweba and Scott Sio in the front row. The dynamic duo of match captain Dafydd Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin continue to dominate the boiler room, supported by a familiar back-row trio of Tom Hooper, Ethan Roots, and Greg Fisilau. Notably, Fisilau has been nominated for the Prem player of the month award for December.
The backline sees Stephen Varney at scrum-half, paired with Harvey Skinner at fly-half. Will Rigg and Henry Slade will team up in the centres, with Campbell Ridl, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and Olly Woodburn forming the formidable back-three.
Baxter added, “The mood around the camp is good, the boys are really embracing a want to get onto the field to train or play. That to me is the most enjoyable part, staying on the field at the end of training because the lads want to do top-ups.” He also gave insight into the upcoming match: “Bath are a good side anyway, even before they get a bit of a slap in the face from a result like the one from Northampton, so I imagine they’ll have had a very focused training week this week.”
The Chiefs are opting for a 5-3 split on the bench. The replacement front row includes Jack Yeandle, Will Goodrick-Clarke, and Jimmy Roots, joined by Rusi Tuima and Kane James to cover the back five. The backline will have Charlie Chapman, Will Haydon-Wood, and Dan John ready to make an impact.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 15:05 at The Rec and will be broadcast live on TNT sports. General admission tickets are already sold out.
Exeter Chiefs Lineup:
15 Olly Woodburn
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Rigg
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Scott Sio
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Bachuki Tchumbadze
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Tom Hooper
7 Ethan Roots
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Will Goodrick-Clarke
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Kane James
21 Charlie Chapman
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Dan John
Now, here's a thought-provoking question: Do you think the Chiefs' decision to stick with the same lineup will give them an edge, or will Bath's determination to bounce back prove too strong? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
