Team News: Chiefs Named for Scarlets Anglo-Welsh Friendly

Exeter Chiefs have named an extended side to face URC side Scarlets in a friendly match-up at Sandy Park this Saturday afternoon.

Rob Baxter has named a varied starting line-up with a further 18 players on the bench to receive some game-time during the international window.

In the front row, Max Norey captains the side at hooker with Danny Southworth at loosehead and Ehren Painter at tighthead.

Rusi Tuima partners Jack Dunne in the second row, with a fan-favourite return in the back row as Richard Capstick returns from injury to pack down on the flank alongside Matt Postlethwaite with Hallam Chapman at eight.

Stu Townsend brings experience at scrum half as Iwan Jenkins starts alongside him at fly-half.

New signing Will Rigg gets his first run-out in Chiefs colours with a start in the centre. The former Coventry man is paired with Zack Wimbush.

The back three sees Josh Hodge get some valued game-time at full-back following his return from injury with Olly Woodburn and Arthur Relton on the wings.

Baxter is pleased that the fixture will provide valuable time on the field for members of the wider Chiefs squad, as well as ensuring vital first-team players remain game ready during the Six Nations break.

“There’s a few things we’d like out of this weekend’s fixture. We’ve got a couple of boys back who haven’t had any game-time yet, so it’ll be great to see a guy like Richard Capstick back in there. It’s a great opportunity for him as he was playing well and starting to come through as a front-line player for us before his injury.

“Another name will be Will Becconsall who’ll get some game time, which will be fantastic. We’ll also get to see Will Rigg for the first time, and it’ll be valuable time for Zack Wimbush, Arthur Relton and Josh Hodge as well.

“It’s an opportunity for our extended squad, so we’re starting with a bit of a mix and match squad – a mix of youth, experience and some returning players.

“We’ve got the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final next week, so if we hadn’t have put a friendly in then we would have been looking at an extended period without any rugby. The one thing you know about the boys, especially some of the bigger ones, is that too long without running around and playing is not necessarily the most productive way for them to be passing their time.”

It is not a conventional bench by any manner of means with 18 players named – an even split of nine forwards and nine backs.

For the front row cover there are: hookers Louie Gulley and Jack Yeandle; and props Billy Keast, Patrick Schickerling, Josh Iosefa-Scott, and Marcus Street.

The second and back row could then call upon Lewis Pearson, Eoin O’Connor and Jacques Vermeulen.

In the backs, the half-back duo is covered by Will Becconsall, Joe Snow, Harvey Skinner and Louie Sinclair.

The remainder of the back-line could then be replaced by Ollie Devoto, Ben Hammersley, Charlie McCaig, Kian Gentry and Chester Ribbons.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Arthur Relton

13 Zack Wimbush

12 Will Rigg

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Iwan Jenkins

9 Stu Townsend

1 Danny Southworth