Exeter Chiefs have named Wallabies back-rower Tom Hooper in their matchday 23 for the first time this season, as Sandy Park prepares to host Newcastle Red Bulls in round three of the Gallagher Premiership. Hooper flew back into the UK earlier this week having featured for Australia in the Rugby Championship, and his return bolsters a Chiefs pack looking to build on last week's performance at Bath.
A Settled Pack With One Key Switch
Director of rugby Rob Baxter has made just one change to his starting forwards from the side that collected two points away at Bath. Kane James drops to the bench, with Italy international Ross Vintcent coming into the back row at openside flanker. The front row remains unchanged, with Ethan Burger and Josh Iosefa-Scott either side of hooker Jack Yeandle, who scored a try last weekend. Captain Dafydd Jenkins, who led the side in tackles and clearouts against Bath, continues in the second row alongside Harry Wilson.
Behind the scrum, Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner retain the half-back pairing after both getting on the scoresheet at The Rec. In the backline, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - who scored twice last time out - lines up on the wing with Tommy Wyatt, while Sam Harris comes in at full-back following an injury concern to Olly Woodburn. Will Butt, facing his former club, keeps his place in midfield alongside Henry Slade.
Why Hooper's Return Matters
Hooper made more than 20 appearances in his debut Chiefs season, including a start in the 2026 Premiership Final, so his reintroduction after international duty carries weight beyond a simple squad update. International call-ups routinely pull players away from domestic competition for weeks at a time, forcing clubs to manage squad depth and form around absences they cannot control. Chiefs have used that period to test alternative combinations, and Hooper's return gives Baxter an experienced option from the bench as the pack looks to maintain the defensive work rate shown against Bath, where Jenkins, flanker Ethan Roots and number eight Greg Fisilau topped the tackle count.
Context Heading Into Round Three
Baxter was candid about where his side stands after two rounds, pointing to the two points taken at Bath as a reasonable return but noting that a single point from the opening home fixture leaves little margin. A win against Newcastle, he said, would put Chiefs on seven or eight points from three matches - a tally that would suggest the campaign is moving in the right direction. He also flagged Newcastle as a side with individual quality still finding its collective shape, following their recent fixture against Leicester Tigers.
Premiership squads of this size reflect the physical demands of a long domestic season layered on top of international windows. Clubs increasingly rely on rotation and bench depth not as a tactical luxury but as a necessity, balancing player welfare against competitive consistency. Hooper's inclusion, alongside James among the replacement forwards, illustrates how English clubs integrate returning international players gradually rather than throwing them straight back into a starting lineup after a long-haul flight and a condensed turnaround.
Kick-off at Sandy Park is set for 15:00.