Team news: Chiefs name side for Derby Weekend

Nika Abuladze and Olly Woodburn return to the Chiefs starting line-up for this weekend’s match-up against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

The Saturday evening Gallagher PREM derby weekend game sees the return of league competition after a single weekend of European action which saw both teams playing away from home.

Abuladze returned to Devon in the summer after two years in France with Montpellier while Woodburn has had to spend a couple of weeks in a rehab programme after injuring his ankle against Bath Rugby in round two.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We showed a lot of good character in last weekend’s game, but now we’ve got to move on and show at least the same level of commitment in the Prem.

“This will be a completely new challenge as it’s not going to be warm and dry, it’s going to be windy and wet. It’ll be interesting to see how we come through the challenge in a tough away game against one of the league’s top four sides.”

Having last featured together against Glasgow Warriors in January 2024, there is a front row reunion for Abuladze with hooker Jack Yeandle and tighthead prop Josh Iosefa-Scott.

Tom Hooper remains in the boiler room for a second week as he scrummages with match captain Dafydd Jenkins, who was this week recalled to Steve Tandy’s Wales squad for the autumn installation of the Nations Championship.

After making a combined 20 carries and 46 tackles against Stade Toulousain last Sunday, the back-row remains intact. Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent start on the blindside and openside flank respectively with Greg Fisilau the No.8 man.

Chiefs make a change at scrum-half for the first time in the Prem as former Bristol Bear Sam Wolstenholme comes into the starting line-up alongside fly-half Harvey Skinner. After an 80-minute performance against Stade Toulousain last Sunday, Stephen Varney will look to make an impact from the bench.

One week on from scoring his first Chiefs try, Will Butt remains at inside centre with Henry Slade running the outside channel. An injury concern for Tommy Wyatt promotes Ben Hammersley into the starting XV on the left wing. Zack Wimbush starts on the right wing with Woodburn returning to the full-back berth.

Baxter added: “What kind of game this is going to be is going to depend a lot on how bad the weather ends up being. There’ll be other challenges as well though. Everyone knows what Bristol’s style is like, we all know they like to play and score points, that’s a big part of their game.

“When you look at things statistically then their set-piece, specifically lineout, is very good. So, they don’t just rely on that chuck-the-ball-around, Barbarians style, they’re quite formulated in what they do, and they do it well.”

Hooker Max Norey is named on the bench with props Ethan Burger and Jimmy Roots, as he prepares to make his first Chiefs appearance since being injured in last season’s final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. In a traditional 5-3 split, Harry Wilson and Kane James provide cover for the back five of the scrum.

For the backs, Varney joins Will Haydon-Wood and Sam Harris in being selected to the bench.

The game kicks off under the floodlights at 17:30 on Saturday evening in Bristol. Live updates will be available from our match centre. The match will also be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Zack Wimbush

13 Henry Slade

12 Will Butt

11 Ben Hammersley

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Sam Wolstenholme

1 Nika Abuladze

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Tom Hooper

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Ross Vintcent

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Ethan Burger

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Harry Wilson

20 Kane James

21 Stephen Varney

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Sam Harris