Rob Baxter gave the supporters of Exeter Chiefs a very late Christmas present when he revealed that the team had signed talented winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to a long-term deal at Sandy Park.
The highlight of the show at Ashton Gate on Friday night was Feyi-Waboso, 21, who scored one try and assisted in setting up two more as Exeter defeated Bristol Bears 24-14 to take the lead in the Gallagher Premiership—at least for the night. Shortly after the Cardiff-born back’s explosive bursts, Stu Townsend and Jacques Vermeulen crossed over, and Josh Iosefa-Scott also scored his fourth try of the year.Medical student Feyi-Waboso, who scored a miraculous try in a 20-14 victory against Newcastle on November 26, recovered from a little hamstring issue and proved to be the difference between the two teams by repeatedly cutting through the Bristol defense. The only thing Baxter had to say about Feyi-Waboso after the game was that, despite clearly outplaying the Bears defense, he didn’t demand the ball go.
Regarding Feyi-Waboso, who appears to be leaning towards Wales despite being in a prospective international rivalry with England, the director of rugby at Exeter stated: “He has agreed a long-term deal with the club.” The reality is that it makes perfect logic and fits right in with his medical training.
“He’s having a good time at Exeter. He tries to balance his desire for playing time with his ongoing medical studies at Exeter University, even though he is aware that it means everything to him. Everything he needs is included in the bundle. All we need to do is put in a lot of effort to help him develop into the greatest player he can be.
“He is incredibly talented and physically powerful. All he needs to do is play rugby and gain experience, and everything will be at his disposal. In a match like today, he simply has to improve his tactical understanding and demand the ball a little more.In many ways, he is an extremely gifted athlete.”
Feyi-Waboso, who relocated to the West Country from Wasps after their downfall the previous season, is a year into his studies at the University of Exeter and appears to have inked a three- or four-year contract with Chiefs.
