Team news: Four Chiefs in line for club debuts against Sale in cup

Exeter Chiefs’ match 23 to take on Sale Sharks in round four of the PREM Rugby Cup includes five debutants.

Following a fortnight off from match action, the Chiefs return to the pitch at the CorpArcq Stadium on Friday evening. England U20s fly-half Ben Coen takes the captaincy with four players in line for their club debut; Louie Gulley, Khwezi Mona, Finn Worley-Brady and Ollie Batson.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’ve got a nice combination of some good young players who are training well and a group of senior players who, because the PREM group have played well and been consistent, are now getting their opportunity to play. It’s going to be an interesting mix, a good group.”

With Scott Sio called up to the Manu Samoa squad for their World Cup qualification competition and Will Goodrick-Clarke recovering from an AC-joint injury, Ethan Burger is handed the starting loosehead shirt. Julian Heaven packs down at hooker while Jimmy Roots prepares for his first appearance of the season at tighthead.

The second row is an experienced one as Rusi Tuima pairs up with Lewis Pearson. Richard Capstick returns from a pre-season injury to start on the blindside with Martin Moloney at openside and Kane James rounding out the pack at number eight.

Charlie Chapman starts at scrum-half with match captain Coen on his shoulder. It’s a new centre partnership for Chiefs as Will Rigg starts alongside Harry Ascherl. The back three is formed by Ben Hammersley and Dan John on the wings with Will Haydon-Wood at full-back.

Baxter said: “The one thing I know is that we’ll go up to Sale with good energy. We know when you play them, you’ve got to get a lot right tactically.

“The challenge for us is to temper our enthusiasm to play with playing in the right way. If we get that balance right, we could create an exciting evening for ourselves.”

Local lad Gulley prepares to debut from the bench as he forms the replacement front row with fellow debutant Mona and Bachuki Tchumbadze. There’s a strong EURFC link as Joe Bailey and university captain Worley-Brady are also named.

Tom Cairns brings experience to the backs on the bench with Paul Brown-Bampoe as Batson prepares for his first competitive appearance.

The game kicks off at 19:45 in Manchester with tickets available on their website here.

Please note, due to a kit clash with Sale Sharks, the Chiefs will be wearing white away kit rather than cup kit for this fixture.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Will Haydon-Wood

14 Dan John

13 Harry Ascherl

12 Will Rigg

11 Ben Hammersley

10 Ben Coen (c)

9 Charlie Chapman

1 Ethan Burger

2 Julian Heaven

3 Jimmy Roots

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Lewis Pearson

6 Richard Capstick

7 Martin Moloney

8 Kane James

Replacements:

16 Louie Gulley

17 Khwezi Mona

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Joe Bailey

20 Finn Worley-Brady

21 Tom Cairns

22 Ollie Batson

23 Paul Brown-Bampoe