Exeter flyer on the fast track to top
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 09: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso of England with the ball during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on March 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
Rob Baxter has warned opposition defences that England sensation Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will only get better with time after impressing for both club and country this season.
The Exeter Chiefs flyer has been the talk of the rugby world this term, producing a series of eye-catching displays that have brought him firmly on to the radar of all and sundry.
Simply stunning in the Premiership, the 21-year-old has since taken that form on to the Test stage, earning himself four caps in the recent Six Nations Championship, as well as a maiden score against Scotland.
It's been a rapid rise for the gifted back who, only last season, was plying his trade in the National Leagues with Taunton Titans.
Baxter, though, was acutely aware of the youngster's prowess when he snapped him up, alongside fellow young guns Greg Fisilau and Alfie Bell, following the demise of Wasps back in October 2022.
Handed his chance, Feyi-Waboso has not disappointed, much to the delight of Baxter, who said: “The exciting thing about him is that, as an actual player, he is just scratching the surface. In his skill development around kick and pass decision-making, other areas of the game, he is still just scratching the surface. However, his ability on the ball is so big that the world is his oyster.
“It's a big thing for our other young guys, seeing a young guy like him break through, pretty much out of nowhere. People have said they knew about him, but they didn't really – he hadn't even played a Premiership game. For those young guys to see him drop in, get an opportunity at Premiership level and then just take off, it's great for all of them. It genuinely creates a lot of excitement.”
Indeed, the term ‘excitement' resonates with Feyi-Waboso, who is currently combining day-today life as a professional player with studying to be at a doctor at the nearby University of Exeter.
“It's been a quick transition,” says Feyi-Waboso. “It feels like it has been game after game after game, but it feels like I've been able to look at the whole situation – where I have come from and where I am now – and be so thankful for everything I have at the moment. It is greedy of me, but I still want more.
“You say I'm a Test player and it's nice of you to say that, but I feel like I still have a long way to go to be a proper Test player. I wouldn't call myself a Test player yet, I'm still getting there. That's nice because it's the next goal for me. On to the next thing.”
As he says, Feyi-Waboso clearly wants more, including helping the Chiefs to prosper between now and the end of the season. “At the beginning of the season, our aim was just to get better as a squad – and everyone kind of wrote us off because our average age was so young. Without Sladey, Yeandle and Woody (Olly Woodburn), I'm not sure there's anyone else over the age of 25. It's a crazily young squad.
“We always thought we could compete [with the best teams in the league]. Obviously, others counted us out, but I never doubted us as a squad. We have a lot of young, talented players from one to beyond 15, beyond 23. Everyone is so young, so good, and wants to do well.
“Right now, we're in Europe and the Premiership top four now. We could do the double, hypothetically!”
It promises to be an exciting few months for the youngster, who hopes to be part of England's plans for their summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
“I'm super excited, obviously lots to look forward to,” he says. “It does motivate me, but I just take each week at a time.”
