Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter offers comprehensive injury update ahead of Leicester Tigers clash
Henry Slade in action for Exeter Chiefs in 2023.
Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, has detailed England star Henry Slade, as well as Tamati Tua and Tommy Wyatt will all be fit around the start of the Premiership Rugby Cup campaign in November.
Slade recently underwent surgery on a shoulder issue after England’s tour to Japan and New Zealand, and was initially ruled out for up to three months. Elsewhere, Tamati Tua arrived at Sandy Park this off-season with a neck injury, and Tommy Wyatt ruptured his ACL on Champions Cup duty for the Chiefs last season.
Detailed injury update on backline trio
Speaking to the media ahead of Exeter’s round one clash with Leicester Tigers, Baxter said the trio would all be returning around the same time in November.
“They could all be in and around the same period, which is around that Autumn international/Prem Cup period; that’s what we’re hopeful of. Some guys might be a couple of weeks forward or a couple of weeks back, but we’re talking roughly this timescale for those three.”
This is certainly good news for Exeter, as it gives them even more bodies across the backline, but in Slade’s case it also comes as some welcome news to Steve Borthwick with Slade now playing an integral part in the England starting XV.
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Update on Jacques Vermeulen
Another player currently on the physio table is Jacques Vermeulen, who picked up a knee injury following their 31-15 pre-season victory over Ulster last weekend.
Commenting on his injury, Baxter said it wasn’t as bad as first feared.
“Jacques Vermeulen took a bang at the weekend. We’re still assessing how bad that is, but it’s not as bad as our initial fears were so that’s a good picture.”
Vermeulen was the front-runner to captain the side this weekend against Leicester Tigers, with current skipper Dafydd Jenkins currently sidelined.
Zack Wimbush set for a spell out
Despite the positive news around the returning faces, there is some bad news on the injury front for the Chiefs as emerging star Zack Wimbush is set to miss out on the start of the season with a foot injury.
The versatile back was expected to play a big role in Exeter’s backline this season, in particular the early stages with the aforementioned Slade and Tua also ruled out, but Baxter said he will now be joining them on the long-term injury list.
“Zack Wimbush has a foot injury. We’re still waiting on a surgeons input on that, but it looks unlikly that’ll be an operation and just a rehab period.”
Wimbush burst onto the scene last season, and became a regular feature in Exeter’s match-day 23; and his form has also reportidly attracted interest from both Wales and England at Test level.
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