Immanuel Feyi-Waboso possesses a beaming smile that can light up any room and it was on evidence in all its glory at Sandy Park this week.
The unseasonably warm autumnal weather in Devon may have played a part in the Exeter and England winger’s mood. But Feyi-Waboso’s happiness is more down to his electrifying start to the new season.
A campaign of injury misery, suspension and missing out on Lions selection is now behind him. The 22-year-old is looking forward, not back and on the evidence of his five tries in only two PREM Rugby games so far, he has returned with the potential to be better than before.
Such a situation is good news for both Exeter and England. ‘The sky is the limit for what he can achieve this season,’ Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said of Feyi-Waboso and he is right. English rugby has a hot property on its hands.
‘It’s so good to be back. It helps you remember how good it is. Everything feels heightened now,’ Feyi-Waboso said.
‘I used to get quite nervous before every game. Now I’ve had time to be on the sidelines, you appreciate it way more. The percentages have flipped a little bit and more towards excitement now.’
When Feyi-Waboso suffered a shoulder injury at Sale late in 2024, he could never have envisaged such a long time out. Whether or not he needed surgery to fix the problem was a discussion between Exeter and England’s respective medical teams that caused angst.
It wasn’t a great advert for English rugby’s new dawn of what is supposed to be greater co-operation between club and country. Feyi-Waboso missed the Six Nations as a result, leaving him unable to earn Lions selection for the summer’s tour of Australia.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso opened the PREM campaign with two tries at Northampton…
…before going over for a hat-trick of tries at home to Newcastle last weekend
Instead, he returned to duty with England only to be promptly sent off in his first game back against a French XV in June.
‘It was my first proper long-term injury as a professional,’ Feyi-Waboso said. ‘You can try to forget about it. But it’s always there. It was tough.
‘It ended up being a long, long time. Way longer than anyone anticipated. Then to come back and get a red card was so completely self-inflicted, so dumb. Luckily enough, Steve (Borthwick) still took me on tour.
‘He didn’t have to do it because I missed the two Argentina Tests but managed to play against the USA. I was so grateful to still be taken on that tour. I had time off after that and then time to get back into fitness. It’s been good for my shoulder. It’s had time to rest. It’s now about time to get back to match fitness.’
England head coach Borthwick’s summer tour selection of Feyi-Waboso despite the fact he was banned for two of the three Tests was a reflection of how highly he rates the Exeter man. It is easy to see why.
In his nine Test caps to date, Feyi-Waboso has taken seamlessly to international rugby, showing not only a propensity to cross the tryline but also a strong understanding of the game at the highest level – one not often seen in such a young player. He has pace, power and can score. But the nuts and bolts of his game are also on point.
Feyi-Waboso in hospital after shoulder surgery in February, following an injury late last year
Feyi-Waboso already has five England tries including three against New Zealand. Not bad. In Exeter’s two PREM games to date, he followed a brace in a high-scoring draw at Northampton with a treble in victory over Newcastle.
‘That was my first hat-trick,’ Feyi-Waboso said. ‘Maybe time off has helped me.’ There’s that smile again.
Barring another injury setback, he will be a certainty for England’s crunch November campaign on the wing, adding to an enviable roster of players Borthwick is assembling. Feyi-Waboso described last season as a ‘big learning experience’ and continues to study medicine at Exeter University alongside his rugby career.
He starts his third straight game for Exeter at Bristol today (SAT). With the electrifying Paul Brown-Bampoe on the other touchline, Baxter has some serious pace to work with. Last season was an annus horribilis for Exeter.
The Chiefs, used to picking up English and European trophies under Baxter, won just four of 18 PREM games to finish second bottom.
Feyi-Waboso has five tries for England and will be back in white for the November campaign
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter believes there’s plenty more to come from the superstar
While it’s still early days, the signs this term are more positive. They travel to Ashton Gate in third and hopeful of an away win against a Bears side which welcomes back England and Lions prop Ellis Genge but has been hit hard by injuries elsewhere. So, is there even more to come from Feyi-Waboso?
Baxter said: ‘I certainly hope so. I don’t want to talk too much about what Manny is going to achieve this season because I’m touching wood every five minutes to make sure he doesn’t get injured again!
‘He needs to stay fit and hopefully that will be the first thing that happens – he gets a good run of games and that will open up all other scenarios for him. I’m pleased with the form he’s showing.
‘It’s positive we’re creating opportunities and we’ve got a man who can finish them off. That bodes well for us.’
