Tom Hooper is back in an Exeter Chiefs matchday 23 for the first time this season, named among the replacements as Sandy Park prepares to host Newcastle Red Bulls in round three of the Gallagher Premiership. The Wallabies back-rower flew into the UK earlier this week after representing Australia in the Rugby Championship, and his reintroduction gives director of rugby Rob Baxter a settled pack to call upon from the bench.
A Squad Rebuilding Momentum
Exeter arrive at this fixture looking to build on a narrow two-point return from their trip to Bath. Baxter was candid in his assessment, noting that a single point from the previous home game had made the Chiefs' early-season position "a little more challenging." Premiership sides are judged early on by cumulative points rather than isolated results, and Baxter's framing - seven or eight points from three rounds representing a side "back on track" - reflects how coaching staff manage expectation through a long campaign rather than reacting to single performances.
The team shows only one change in personnel from the starting pack that faced Bath, with Kane James making way for Ross Vintcent at openside flanker. Continuity elsewhere, particularly among the leading tacklers from the previous round, suggests a coaching staff rewarding form rather than rotating purely for freshness.
Hooper's Return and International Player Management
Hooper's recall illustrates a recurring logistical challenge for Premiership clubs with capped internationals: integrating players straight off a demanding international window. The 24-cap forward made more than 20 appearances in his debut Chiefs season, including a start in the 2026 Premiership Final, so his profile within the squad is established. Placing him among the replacements rather than straight into the starting XV is a conservative approach, allowing him minutes off the bench after a long-haul return rather than a full 80 minutes.
This kind of phased reintroduction is common across the league, where clubs balance player welfare, jet lag, and conditioning against squad depth needs. It also reflects the broader tension in the modern game between international calendars and domestic competition schedules, an issue administrators across world rugby continue to wrestle with as player workload comes under greater scrutiny.
Newcastle's Growing Threat
Baxter's comments on Newcastle Red Bulls carry a note of caution. Describing them as "clearly a very dangerous side" with "real strength and quality individuals," while still "learning a little how to come together as a team," is a pointed assessment. It suggests a Newcastle squad with individual talent that has not yet translated into consistent collective performance - the kind of team capable of an upset against a side that fails to respect them.
For Exeter, the message from their head coach is pragmatic rather than celebratory: improvement, not just victory, is the stated aim. Baxter pointed to progress shown against Bath across "a lot of areas," framing Saturday's fixture at Sandy Park as another incremental step rather than a statement win.
What to Watch
- Will Butt starts in the centres after an impressive showing against his former club, partnering Henry Slade.
- Sam Harris comes into the back three at full-back following an injury concern to Olly Woodburn.
- The half-back pairing of Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner retains its starting berths after both scored at The Rec.
- Kick-off at Sandy Park is scheduled for 15:00.