Exeter Boss Rob Baxter Sees Feyi-Waboso as World Cup Force

The turf at Sandy Park still holds the memory of his sprint, a blur of white and blue cutting through the Cardiff air. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed for the final time in a 33-28 victory, his boots digging into the grass with a force that echoes the raw pace he brings to the flank. It was a sharp, electric moment, a preview of what the game demands from him when the lights are brightest.

Yet this speed comes with a fragile cost. The 23-year-old has navigated a turbulent year, his rhythm interrupted by a fractured jaw at Leicester and a hamstring tear that sidelined him during the Six Nations. His body has been a battleground, but his coach sees something else entirely: a player on the cusp of breaking into the elite tier of international rugby.

Baxter sees a World Cup force

Rob Baxter, the Exeter Chiefs head coach, speaks with measured conviction about Feyi-Waboso’s trajectory. He views the winger not just as a talent, but as a potential star for England next summer, provided he can string together a sequence of clean games. The path to the World Cup is paved with consistency, and Baxter believes the young man has the engine to drive it.

“I think if he can really put a run of games together he could be quite a force come World Cup time because he is an exceptional player,” Baxter said. The coach emphasizes that match time is the great equalizer, sharpening instincts and refining the technical edges that only come from repeated exposure to high-pressure environments.

A season of setbacks and returns

The 2024-25 campaign was a study in resilience. Feyi-Waboso battled a shoulder injury that kept him out until the summer, yet he returned to score 13 tries in all competitions. His 28 appearances for club and country marked his busiest season since arriving on the scene, a testament to his ability to reassert himself after prolonged absences.

Despite missing the Premiership final and the play-off semi-final against Bath due to his jaw fracture, he found his footing again at Twickenham and in the Nations Championship. Each return has been a reclamation of form, a proof that his game remains intact beneath the physical hurdles.

Sharpness built through repetition

Baxter highlights the specific value of continuity. “That gives him real match fitness and real match sharpness,” he noted, pointing to the winger’s performance against Cardiff as evidence. The coach recalls the moments of brilliance, the ability to beat defenders one-on-one, and the fantastic pace that defines Feyi-Waboso’s profile.

The Exeter boss is eager to see more of this sharpness this week, knowing that game time acts as a catalyst for improvement. As reported by Yahoo Sports, the focus is on sustaining this momentum, allowing Feyi-Waboso to transform sporadic flashes of genius into a sustained, undeniable presence on the field.