There is a particular kind of dread that settles over a coaching staff when a key attacker leaves the field clutching a leg, and Steve Borthwick’s England camp knows that feeling all too well. When Immanuel Feyi-Waboso limped off during Exeter’s Premiership victory over Newcastle earlier this month, alarm bells rang from Twickenham to Sandy Park. The good news, confirmed after scans carried out over the weekend, is that those bells were a false alarm. The 23-year-old is back in training and could be in contention for Exeter’s Premiership clash with Harlequins on Saturday.
For context on why this matters so much, consider the timeline. Feyi-Waboso missed the entirety of this year’s Six Nations campaign after injuring his hamstring in January, a brutal blow for a player who had been building serious momentum at international level. He returned during the summer Nations Championship and wasted no time reminding everyone what the fuss was about, featuring in all three of England’s games and crossing for tries against both Fiji and Argentina. A winger who scores at that rate in international rugby does not go unnoticed.
The Injury Scare That Silenced a Stadium
The worry began when Feyi-Waboso pulled up during the second half of Exeter’s win against Newcastle. Given his hamstring history, any kind of lower-body concern was always going to send anxiety levels through the roof. He subsequently sat out Exeter’s next two Premiership fixtures, leaving fans and coaches alike watching the calendar tick toward the November international window with growing unease.
But the scan results have offered genuine relief. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter, speaking to BBC Sport, made his feelings clear. “He’s an international quality player, it’d be fantastic to have him available, so let’s cross fingers and hope that things keep progressing at the rate they are,” Baxter said. That is about as close to cautious optimism as a head coach ever gets in public, and reading between the lines, the mood at Sandy Park appears genuinely positive.
Three Premiership Games, Two Tries, One Very Clear Argument
Before the injury layoff, Feyi-Waboso had been in sharp form for Exeter this season, scoring two tries in his three Premiership appearances. That kind of output from a winger early in a domestic campaign signals form, not just potential. At 23, he sits in that rare sweet spot where raw pace and instinct are beginning to blend with the decision-making and positional awareness that only competitive minutes can develop.
England’s back three has never lacked options under Borthwick, but having a player of Feyi-Waboso’s calibre fit and firing heading into November’s Nations Championship fixtures adds a dimension that simply cannot be replicated. His ability to finish tries at international level, already demonstrated against Fiji and Argentina this summer, signals a player ready to be a genuine weapon at the highest level, not a project.
What the Nations Championship Stakes Mean for Selection
The Nations Championship has raised the stakes for autumn internationals considerably. These are no longer warm-up acts or exhibition matches against touring sides. Points matter, standings matter, and the margin between a polished squad and a depleted one can be the difference between progressing or falling short. Borthwick’s selection decisions heading into November carry real weight, and having a try-scorer of Feyi-Waboso’s quality available rather than sitting in the medical room changes the conversation entirely.
International coaches talk endlessly about depth and squad resilience, but the truth is that some players are genuinely difficult to replace. A winger who can beat defenders in open space, finish under pressure, and perform across consecutive Test matches is not something you find on a conveyor belt. Feyi-Waboso, when fit, is one of those players.
Hooper’s Shoulder Adds Another Layer of Good News for Exeter
The positive medical updates were not limited to Feyi-Waboso. Exeter also received encouraging news about Australia forward Tom Hooper, who was forced from the field shortly before half-time during Saturday’s defeat at Bristol. Hooper had already been navigating recovery from a fractured scapula sustained over the summer, making any fresh shoulder concern a serious worry. Assessment since the Bristol match has indicated that the latest injury is not serious, giving Baxter and his backroom staff reason for some relief on two fronts simultaneously.
For Exeter as a club, the timing matters. They are juggling Premiership ambitions alongside the international calendar, and losing frontline players in quick succession can derail a season’s momentum before December even arrives. Two pieces of relatively clean medical news in the same week is the kind of small fortune that compounds.
The Bigger Picture for England’s Autumn
England’s autumn Nations Championship campaign will be watched closely by supporters hungry for progress after a summer that offered genuine promise. Feyi-Waboso’s tries against Fiji and Argentina were not just numbers on a match sheet; they were evidence that Borthwick has an attacker capable of delivering in the moments that change games. Getting him back fit, sharp, and playing Premiership rugby before the international window opens is the ideal preparation script.
Whether Feyi-Waboso lines up for Exeter against Harlequins on Saturday will be the first real indicator of how his recovery is progressing. A full run-out at Premiership level would put him firmly in the frame for England selection, and you can be fairly certain that Borthwick and his staff will be watching every minute of that game with considerable interest.
Rugby fans know better than anyone that injury news in sport can flip from good to bad with a single step on a training field. But right now, for England and for Exeter, the signs point in the right direction. A young winger with pace, finishing instinct, and proven international form is heading back toward the pitch.
The question now is simple: if Feyi-Waboso returns and hits the ground running in November’s Nations Championship, could 2026 become the year he cements himself as one of England’s first-choice backs for the years ahead?
