Team news: Chiefs name side for 2026 Gallagher PREM Final

Exeter Chiefs have named a changed matchday 23 to face Northampton Saints at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in the 2026 Gallagher PREM Final.

Five years on from their last appearance on the grand stage, only three of the Chiefs 23 have featured in a previous Prem final. There is a well-timed return for England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to the starting XV led out by match captain Dafydd Jenkins.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “When you start to go through the team, you’ve got quite a few guys who’ve experienced big games internationally and club-wise now in these types of environments. I think that’s going to be important. We’re going to need those guys to step up.

“The excitement of days like this though is also for some of the guys who haven’t been in big games like this before, so it’s about them getting there and showing the best of themselves. The combination of that energy and emotional control, that’ll decide whether it’s us or Northampton that secures it.

“Every team is dangerous with quick ball, and Northampton are probably the most dangerous. We’ve got to fight in all areas, we can’t give up ball too much because the way you nullify their attack is by them not having the ball.”

Experienced loosehead Scott Sio packs down in the front row with tighthead Josh Iosefa-Scott and hooker Max Norey, who scored on his last time out in London.

Captain Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin complete the season as the second row pairing after impressing in 14 previous starts together in the league.

Ethan Roots has been selected in the back-row having completed his return to play protocol from a head-knock suffered against Saracens in the last round of the regular season at Sandy Park. Roots joins Tom Hooper and Greg Fisilau to complete a brutally hard-hitting trio.

Scrum-half Stephen Varney and fly-half Harvey Skinner, with a combined 21 try assists and eight tries scored between them, start in the nine and 10 shirts.

Wallabies international Len Ikitau looks to complete his Chiefs career with silverware as he starts in the centre field with Henry Slade.

In the back three, Feyi-Waboso joins Campbell Ridl on the wings. While, competing in his sixth Prem final, Olly Woodburn wears the number 15 jersey.

Baxter added: “Ahead of this season, the crucial, most important thing in our DNA that we had to rediscover was that competitiveness that if you can’t win, you draw. I think the boys bought into that very early in pre-season and I think that’s been one of those key areas that, having learned it, allowed us to get to the scenario that we did at Bath last weekend.

“This is going to be a tough game, but the lads are aligned in their purpose. That makes you stronger as a group.”

Chiefs opt for a 6-2 bench with scrum-half Tom Cairns and utility back Will Haydon-Wood selected to cover the back-line.

For the forwards, Ethan Burger is selected as the replacement loosehead a week on from scoring his first Chiefs try at The Rec. He partners fellow prop Bachuki Tchumbadze and hooker Joseph Dweba.

Christ Tshiunza prepares to take the field for the final time as a Chief, flanked by Italian international Ross Vintcent and the explosive youngster, Kane James.

The game kicks off at 15:00 in Twickenham, broadcast live on TNT Sports or you can follow the action in our live match centre here.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Len Ikitau

11 Campbell Ridl

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Scott Sio

2 Max Norey

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Tom Hooper

7 Ethan Roots

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Joseph Dweba

17 Ethan Burger

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Christ Tshiunza

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Kane James

22 Tom Cairns

23 Will Haydon-Wood