Team news: Feyi-Waboso returns for Chiefs’ knockout clash against Munster

England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns to action this weekend as Exeter Chiefs take on Munster Rugby in their EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 match at Sandy Park.

The knockout clash in Devon will be Feyi-Waboso’s first game since injuring his hamstring in England training camp ahead of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations. He last featured in a Chiefs shirt against Bristol Bears in the Gallagher PREM at the end of January.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Munster are a very proud European side. We’ve had some fierce contests with them in the past and it’s certainly not going to be any different this weekend.

“Our challenge will be to get ourselves on the field and firing the first shots. It’ll be about who can set the intensity, throw their punches first and get their momentum in the game.”

Samoan international Scott Sio starts at loosehead for a second consecutive week with hooker Jack Yeandle and tighthead prop Jimmy Roots, who was nominated for player of the day in last weekend’s match up at Newcastle.

Dafydd Jenkins returns from his mandated week’s rest to captain the side and partner Andrea Zambonin in the second row.

After back-to-back Gallagher POTM wins and nomination to the four-name shortlist for PREM player of the month, Tom Hooper starts in the back-row. The Australian is backed up by Ross Vintcent and Greg Fisilau.

Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner had a try and a try assist apiece last weekend, so start at scrum-half and fly-half for this knockout bout. Following the birth of his daughter, Henry Slade returns to action alongside Will Rigg in the midfield.

Feyi-Waboso lines up with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Olly Woodburn in the back-three combination.

Baxter added: “I’m expecting a real ferocious contest in most areas of the game this weekend. Having watched their most recent European games, where I feel you see the real Munster, they try to drag you into that real kind of European frenzy.

“You have to be careful that you don’t get pulled into an organised chaos type of game, where they’re so competitive in so many areas that you get rattled out of your game-plan and end up in a chaotic environment around the breakdown and the kicking game.”

Joseph Dweba returns to the matchday side on the bench with Ethan Burger and Bachuki Tchumbadze.

Having impressed throughout the PREM Rugby Cup and earned his league debut recently, Finn Worley Brady completes the trifecta of tournament debuts as he lines up for his first EPCR Challenge Cup appearance. He is named with Rusi Tuima to cover the back five of the scrum.

Tom Cairns and Will Haydon-Wood provide cover to the half-backs while Campbell Ridl prepares to bring energy to the pitch as soon as he is called upon.

The game kicks off at an earlier time of 12:30 at Sandy Park with tickets still available here.