Rob Baxter airs ‘frustration’ after ‘minimal contact’ ruling forces mandatory Immanuel Feyi-Waboso standdown and injures Jacob Stockdale
Exeter Chiefs winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (left) picked up a head knock in their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Ulster
England international Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss Exeter Chiefs’ upcoming PREM clash with Bath this weekend, following his head knock against Ulster.
The winger was taken off after just 29 minutes after a hefty collision with Ulster back Jacob Stockdale and did not return to the field.
Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter later confirmed Feyi-Waboso passed his HIA but was kept off the pitch by the independent doctor.
‘He’s not going to be available after his immediate removal’
That decision to keep him off the field, despite passing his HIA, will see Feyi-Waboso stand down for at least the next 12 days, thus ruling him out of the meeting with Bath.
“People are aware of what happened to Manny,” Baxter told members of the media ahead of his side’s meeting with Bath. “He’s not going to be available after his immediate removal; that’s a 12-day minimum turnaround.”
However, while he will now sit out this weekend’s clash at Sandy Park, Baxter has dismissed any concerns of this being a long-term issue.
“He’s passed all his HIA stuff,” Baxter added. “He passed it on the day, and he’s passed all the processes since.
“It’s unlikely (he’ll miss more than one game) as he’s not having any symptoms.”
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Feyi-Waboso’s absence is also nullified somewhat this weekend, with England hopeful Paul Brown-Bampoe back available after passing his return-to-play protocols.
‘It’s either there’s head contact, or there’s not’
The incident itself was the topic of conversation both during and immediately after the 29-12 defeat at the Affidea Stadium.
Upon a TMO review, the Stockdale tackle was deemed low-impact and resulted in a yellow card, yet led to the immediate and permanent removal of both players, with the Ireland international suffering a facial fracture and is set to undergo surgery as a result.
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“Player welfare is a hugely important part of this,” Baxter said. “But it just feels a bit weird that it was deemed a low-impact situation, and yet the player is immediately removed from the field of play based on what we’ve seen on the field.
“The immediate removal sees Manny ruled out for a game (against Bath), because that’s the decision the independent doctor makes; but the ruling on the field is minimal head contact.
“It feels odd that you can have one without the other. I can’t see why Manny is an immediate removal without significant head contact.
“It’s either there’s head contact, or there’s not, and that’s my frustration.”
